Is B12 available OTC in Belgium?

[Sleepybunny]

As there is a chance I might visit Belgium in the future, do any of you know if B12 ampoules are available over the counter from Belgian pharmacies?

Can any of you give me a link to the EEC legislation that allows people to bring back medciation for their own or immediate family's use?

Thank you for your help.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Didn't manage to get anywhere with trying to find out what the position is in Belgium beyond how they have implemented the following Compassionate Use Policy which is I think the EU legislation that is relevant to sourcing B12 from outside the UK

ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/do...

In Belgium it used to be the case that you could be prosecuted for sourcing anything from outside Belgium and through a registered pharmacy there but there was a court of Justice ruling that this reperesented unfair restrictions so they changed it to make it possible to purchase medications on-line but only if they were licensed for use in Belgium. Injectable B12 (both cyano and hydroxo) is licensed for use in Belgium - but think this applies to a particular brand only ... however, the source of information gave no indication as to whether, if you were getting it from a pharmacy, it would be prescription only or not.

The Compassionate Use Policy applies to personal use - so strictly doesn't, I believe to members of the same family. However, there are practical considerations around people in the same household so think it wouldn't be a problem if peoplewere living under the same roof but could be problematic if you are purchasing for a relative that isn't living under the same roof.

Hope this at least answers part of the query.

[Sleepybunny in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit. May be I'm better off going to Greece?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Sleepybunny]

If you know that it is available over the counter in Greece then possibly.