In a letter to the Department of Health signed by the RPSGB and by co signatories from the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), Association of Independent Multiples (AIMp); Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS); PSNI (Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland); the Company Chemists Association (CCA); and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the Department of Health has been requested to remove the three year rule from the relevant legislation at the earliest opportunity.

On behalf of the various organisations, Wendy Harris, Deputy Registrar and Director of Regulation at the RPSGB explains that the existing prohibition is not linked either to the expertise and competence of the EU pharmacist or to the length of time that he or she has been registered with the RPSGB or to the time worked in Great Britain, but is instead allied to the date of registration of the pharmacy premises. This includes minor relocations as well as new premises. The co signatories agree that the current legislation does not offer any real public benefit or protection and that there is, therefore, no real reason for the legislation to remain as in its existing form as it is unfit for purpose. The co signatories have therefore requested that the Department of Health considers removal of the three year rule at the earliest opportunity.