An Irish-based website that facilitated the purchase of prescription-only drugs online has been shut down after an investigation by the Irish Medicines Board.
The body said it had visited two premises this week, one in Kerry and another in Dublin, in connection with a website hosted in Ireland.
“The website was operating as a facilitator linking potential purchasers of prescription only medicines to another website outside of Ireland,” it said in a statement.
“The Irish website has now been decommissioned. As part of its follow up, the IMB is liaising with counterparts in other countries on the matter.”
Under Irish law, the sale of prescription-only medicines by mail order or online is banned.
The medicines regulatory body said it was working in close cooperation with the Revenue Commissioners and Customs Service, to intercept supplies of medicines ordered on the internet.
It said it strongly advised consumers not to purchase medicinal products through unauthorised sources such as the web as “there can be no guarantees on the safety, efficacy and quality of products purchased in this manner”.
The body took part in 'Operation Pangea' this week in conjunction with eight other countries, as part of the first international internet day of action targeting the illegal online sale of medicines.
It was co-ordinated by the Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime, Interpol and the World Health Organisation's medicines anti-counterfeiting section.