Why Not Recommended?

While NABP criteria for legitimately operating Internet pharmacies include compliance with all pharmacy laws and practice standards, only those considered “rogue” are listed as Not Recommended. A “rogue” Internet drug outlet is a Web site selling, offering to sell, or facilitating the sale of prescription drugs that intentionally or knowingly:

• Violates, appears to violate, or encourages or facilitates violation of any federal or state law or regulation;
• Does not adhere to accepted standards of pharmacy and/or medicine practice, including standards of safety.
  
  For example, an Internet drug outlet would be considered rogue if it engages in the following practices:
  • dispenses or offers to dispense prescription drugs without receipt of a valid prescription (ie, one issued pursuant to a legitimate patient-prescriber relationship that has included a face-to-face physical examination of the patient by the prescribing practitioner) issued by a person authorized to prescribe under state law and, as applicable, federal law;
  • distributes or offers to distribute prescriptions or prescription drugs solely on the basis of an online questionnaire or consultation without a pre-existing patient-prescriber relationship that has included a face-to-face physical examination, except as explicitly permitted under state laws or regulations; or
  • engages in fraudulent or deceptive practices in any jurisdiction where the Web site or the entity that controls the Web site dispenses or offers to dispense prescription drugs