NABP secures .pharmacy domain

Now that the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has secured the Internet domain .pharmacy, the group hopes the designation will help consumers identify legitimate online pharmacies and related resources.

As of June 19, 2014, NABP became the registry operator of the new .pharmacy domain.

NABP plans to launch the new domain by fall 2014. Presently, it is finalizing polices to make sure only legitimate website operators that adhere to pharmacy laws in the jurisdictions in which they operate will be able to use the domain.

“Amidst a proliferation of rogue websites selling counterfeit and substandard drug products, the .pharmacy domain will give consumers an easy way to be assured that they are using a safe, legitimate, Internet pharmacy,” said NABP President Joseph L. Adams, RPh. “Toward this goal, NABP is very pleased to become an official registry operator under the agreement with [the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers].”

NABP has reviewed more than 10,790 online drug sites. It found that 97% of the sites reviewed did not comply with pharmacy laws and practice standards established in the United States.

 NABP has a website that provides information for those seeking to use the .pharmacy domain.