Manufacturer's and wholesale dealer's licences


Orange Guide banner
 
 
Medicinal products manufactured in the UK must be produced on a site that holds an appropriate manufacturer's licence (ML). Any company or individual wishing to wholesale deal (defined as selling, supplying or procuring to anyone other than the end-user) medicinal products within the EU must hold a wholesale dealer's licence (WL). The administrative activities for issuing and maintaining manufacturer's and wholesale dealer's licences are carried out by the Licensing Section in the Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Division and in fulfilling its role the Section works very closely with the Medicines Inspectorate.

Latest news

Best practice for ensuring the efficient supply and distribution of medicines to patients - February 2011

This guidance has been developed and is supported by eleven organisations, including the MHRA, following detailed consideration of the current problems with the supply chain, especially those caused by increased exports of medicines from the UK.

Best practice for ensuring the efficient supply and distribution of medicines to patients

Advertising of unlicensed medicines - 14 September 2010

On 19 August 2010 a change was made to the way in which appropriately authorised wholesale dealers and manufacturers can make healthcare professionals aware of the unlicensed medicines they have available. Holders of a licence permitting the manufacture, importation and/or distribution of unlicensed medicines can now issue a price list to healthcare professionals without first having received a bona fide unsolicited order.

Further information about the change in advertising of unlicensed medicines

Guidance for registered pharmacies that also hold wholesale dealer’s licences - 26 July 2010

In November 2009, the MHRA together with the Department of Health and eight other bodies, published guidance on “Trading medicines for Human Use: Shortages and Supply Chain Obligations". The MHRA would like to clarify that it considers the guidance to be best practice.

Further information on the guidance for registered pharmacies that also hold wholesale dealer’s licences

Guidance published on UK exporting of medicines - 13 November 2009

Guidance helping pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors to meet their obligations regarding the supply of medicines has been jointly published by nine organisations including the MHRA. The new guidance aims to reduce future problems with the export of medicines for profit by setting out the key legal and ethical obligations for manufacturers, wholesalers, NHS trusts, registered pharmacies and dispensing doctors in relation to the supply and trading of medicines.

Trading medicines for human use: Shortages and supply chain obligationsPDF file (opens in new window) (32Kb)

Types of licence

Manufacturer's and wholesale dealer's licences

Licence type Licensed activity
Human products  
Manufacturer’s/importer’s licence (MIA)

Allows the holder to:

  • manufacture and/or assemble (package) medicinal products
  • wholesale deal licensed medicinal products imported from countries outside the EEA
 
Manufacturer 'specials' licence (MS)

Allows the holder to:

  • manufacture unlicensed medicinal products (commonly referred to as 'specials')
  • import unlicensed medicinal products from outside the EEA
Manufacturer investigational medicinal products (MIAIMP) Allows the holder to manufacture investigational medicinal products used in clinical trials
Hospital exemption licence:
Manufacturer’s Licence - Exempt Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (MeAT)

Allows the holder to:

  • manufacture exempt Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
  • on a non routine basis
  • for use in hospitals in the UK.
Full wholesale dealer licence (WL) Allows the holder to wholesale deal pharmacy (P), prescription only (POM) traditional herbal medicinal products (THMP) and General Sale List (GSL) medicines
Wholesale dealer (GSL) licence (WDL) Allows the holder to wholesale deal General Sale List (GSL) medicines only
Veterinary products

 

Manufacturer’s/importer’s authorisation (ManA)

Allows the holder to:

  • manufacture and/or assemble (package) medicinal products
  • wholesale deal licensed medicinal products imported from countries outside the EEA
Manufacturer 'specials' authorisation (ManSA)

Allows the holder to manufacture unlicensed medicinal products (commonly referred to as 'specials')

   
Wholesale dealer authorisation (WDA) Allows the holder to wholesale deal (POM-V), (POM-VPS), (NFA-VPS), (AVM-GSL) medicines

Application forms

Human products

Manufacturer's and wholesale dealer's licence forms - New applications and variations to existing licences

Veterinary products

Manufacturer's and wholesale dealer's licence forms - New applications and variations to existing licences

Completed application forms should be sent to:
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Process Licensing
5th Floor, Y-363
151 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SZ.

Or electronic submissions can be sent to:
pcl@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

Legislation

The Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use was amended on 30 October 2005, which  impacts on existing legislation (including the Medicines Act 1968 and Regulations/Orders made under that Act).  In relation to licences for manufacturers and distributors of medicinal products for human use, there is The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2789).

The coming into force of The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2789) means that the MHRA Guidance Notes  are currently under review:

  • Guidance Note 5 - Notes for applicants and holders of a manufacturer’s licence
  • Guidance Note 6 - Notes for applicants and holders of a wholesale dealer’s licence
  • Guidance Note 8  - A guide to what is a medicinal product
  • Guidance Note 13 - A guidance note on manufacturer’s licences authorising a non-orthodox practitioner to mix and assemble unlicensed medicinal products
  • Guidance Note 14 - The supply of unlicensed relevant medicinal products for individual patients

Interpretation of legislation

The MHRA Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the standards that apply to the manufacture and supply of medicines on the UK market. 

The Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Division’s Policy Unit advises on the interpretation of the law relevant to inspection and standards as well as developing policy on manufacturing and wholesaling of medicinal products.

The Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Division’s Policy Unit  are also a focus for contributions and comments on European legislative proposals concerning manufacturing and wholesale distribution of medicinal products for human use and their introduction when adopted into UK law.

For further information, please contact our Policy Section, MHRA, 5 Magenta, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SZ, telephone 020 3080 6442, fax 020 7084 2439, email info@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

MHRA guidance

Manufacturers and wholesalers will find the following MHRA guidance useful:

Registers of licences

Assembly only operations: manufacturing licences for assembly only (formerly AO) licences performing only primary or secondary packaging operations do not appear in this report. However, this information will, in due course, be available via the EUDRA GMP database which will display all Certificates of Good Manufacturing Practice. In the interim, if you have any queries regarding assembly only manufacturers please email pcl@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 020 3080 6844.

Department of Health and MHRA register of licensed manufacturing sites (human, veterinary and combined sites) 2011PDF file (opens in new window) (1008Kb)
Department of Health and MHRA register of licensed wholesale dealer sites (human, veterinary and combined sites) 2011PDF file (opens in new window) (6331Kb)
Department of Health and MHRA register of manufacturer's authorisations for investigational medicinal products  (MIAIMP) 2011PDF file (opens in new window) (714Kb)
Inspected UK contract GMP Quality Control laboratoriesPDF file (opens in new window) (94Kb)

Monthly lists of new, terminated and revoked manufacturing and wholesale dealer's licences

List of new manufacturing and wholesale dealer licences - 2010/12 PDF file (opens in new window) (1357Kb)
List of terminated, revoked and cancelled manufacturing and wholesale dealer licences - 2010/12 PDF file (opens in new window) (1803Kb)
List of terminated and revoked manufacturing and wholesale dealer licences 2006-2009PDF file (opens in new window) (547Kb)

Suspended manufacturing and wholesale dealer's licences

Company name Licence suspended Date first suspended Suspended until
Leansave Limited WL 35497 23 September 2011 22 March 2012
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust MS 21416 - Site 22075 only 25 October 2011 25 April 2012
Global Pharmaceutical Solutions Limited WL 36578 16 November 2011 16 February 2012

Contact for further information

For further information please email pcl@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or contact the PcL enquiry line on 020 3080 6844 or write to PcL Enquiries, 5th Floor, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London SW1W 9SZ.


Page last modified: 03 February 2012