Change of ownership or business details

Under the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2001 (the Act), a person 'owns' a pharmacy business if they have a proprietary or beneficial interest in the pharmacy business, but ownership does not include a person having an interest in the pharmacy business arising under a bill of sale, mortgage or other form of security, in relation to the pharmacy business.

Pharmacy Ownership Portal

Change of ownership

To submit a change of ownership notification, please open the Pharmacy Ownership Portal

Where there is a change in interest and ownership of a pharmacy business the buyer and seller, transferor and transferee or new owner/s (Party) of a pharmacy business must complete the Form 1 in relation to the change, where a Party is a:

    (a) sole trader, the individual
    (b) company, the director/s of the company
    (c) partnership, by each partner of the partnership, and where the partner is a company, by the director/s of that company; and
    (d) trustee/s of a trust.

A change of ownership includes:

    (a) sale of a pharmacy business (whether entirely or in-part)
    (b) change in shareholding or directorship of a corporation that owns a pharmacy business
    (c) change in partnership arrangements where a person’s share or interest in the business changes; and
    (d) any other change to a person’s proprietary or beneficial interest in a pharmacy business.

Form 1 (all) guidance

Supporting documents for Form 1 only need to be submitted once where the following applies:

Company

Where the owner of the pharmacy business is a company and there is more than one director, only one director needs to provide a certified copy of the company constitution, current company search extract, and where applicable, service agreement/s and documents that make up any franchise arrangement or licence to use any trade mark or logo.

Partnership

Where the pharmacy business is owned by partners under a partnership, only one partner needs to provide a certified copy of the Partnership Agreement (or confirmation in writing that no such agreement exists), of any service agreements, and any documents that make up any franchise arrangement or licence to use any trade mark or logo. Where one of the partners is a trustee under trust, the trustee of the trust must provide a certified copy of the Trust Deed. Where one of the partners is a company, a director or sole director must provide as certified copy of the company constitution and current company extract.

Trust

Where the owner of the pharmacy business is a trustee/s under a trust, and there is more than one trustee, only one trustee is required to provide a certified copy of the trust deed, any service agreement/s and where applicable, documents that make up any franchise arrangement or licence to use any trade mark or logo. Where the trustee is a company, one director or sole director must provide a certified copy of the company constitution and current company extract.

Change of business details

To submit a change of business details notification, please open the Pharmacy Ownership Portal

All owners of a pharmacy business are required to notify the Department of changes to pharmacy business details. This may include, but is not limited to:

    (a) change of trade name
    (b) change in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme approval status, or change in approval number
    (c) change of the pharmacy business’ premises address or relocation (including within a shopping centre or complex).

Form guidance

A single Form 2 may be completed by all owners of the pharmacy business. However, each partner of a partnership, trustee of a trust and director of a company must submit their own Annexure E Queensland Pharmacy Ownership Declaration attached to the Form 2.

Arrangements that relate to the operation of a pharmacy business

Included in Form 1 and Form 2 are questions that relate to the operation of the pharmacy business. The information (and any relevant supporting documentation) will allow the department to determine compliance under the Act.

A Documentation List is included within Form 1 and Form 2, which may assist you in determining which documents are relevant.

Paper-based notification forms

It is preferred that all notifications are submitted via the Pharmacy ownership portal, however it is acknowledged that some may prefer to submit notifications via email or post.

Access to Paper-based notification forms

Guidelines

The Pharmacy business ownership in Queensland — Guidelines (PDF 257 kB) have been developed to assist in the completion of pharmacy business ownership related forms.

Fact sheets

Temporary closure of pharmacy businesses (PDF 92 kB)

Pharmacy ownership portal

Access the Pharmacy business ownership administration system

Support for the new portal

The following quick guides have been developed to assist pharmacy business owners and their representatives in using the new Pharmacy business ownership administration system:

Last updated: 28 May 2021