eBay does not permit the listing of any controlled drug, food for special medical purpose, or item that requires a prescription from, or the supervision of, a licenced practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, optician, vet or pharmacists) to dispense. This includes, but is not limited to, prescription drugs, contact lens, and prescription eyewear.

Prescriptions for Humans

eBay does not permit the listing of any controlled drug or item that requires a prescription from, or the supervision of, a licensed practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, optician or vet) to dispense. Examples of prescription items not permitted on eBay include, but are not limited to:

• Contact lens (including 'zero powered' or cosmetic lenses)

• Prescription eyewear (vintage eyeglasses sold for collectible purposes are permitted)

• Certain types of Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) units and their accessories that require a prescription

• Defibrillators

• Dietary stimulants containing ma huang(e) or ephedra

• CPAP machines, Bilevel Positive Airway (BiPAP) devices, and Variable Positive Airway Pressure (VPAP) devices and their accessories that require a prescription

• Implantable devices, such as pacemakers, heart valves, vascular grafts, ventricular bypass devices, and implantable fusion pumps

• Pumps and ancillary items for the administration of enteral tube feeds

• Advertisements offering Medical Procedures: A complex set of regulations prohibit the issue of any advertisement to the general public which is likely to lead to the use of a prescription only medicine (POM).  For this reason, sellers are not permitted to sell medical procedure services on eBay e.g. services offering Botox.  Please visit the MHRA   website for more information

eBay also does not permit unauthorised medical devices such as ear candles. Additionally, in the UK eBay does not permit the listing of any components of prescription or over-the-counter drugs unless the sale of such components without a prescription has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

How can you be sure that you're not listing or bidding on a prescription drug?

UK users can check out the MHRA's web page for advice on purchasing drugs online at: www.mhra.gov.uk/

For information on dental products, please look at the General Dental Council website, which can be found at : http://www.gdc-uk.org/

If you require advice on spectacles and contact lenses, you should contact The College of Optometrists. Further information can be obtained by accessing their website: http://www.college-optometrists.org/

For information on optical cleaning fluids, you should contact the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency at: http://www.mhra.gov.uk.

In Ireland, the Irish Medicines Board's website can be consulted: http://www.imb.ie/

Veterinary Products and Pet Medicines

Yes, sometimes even animals need to obtain a prescription before they can obtain certain medicines. For example, many heart worm medicines (such as Sentinel, Revolution, Heartgard and Interceptor) can only be purchased with a prescription, and these items are therefore not allowed on eBay.

On the other hand, a number of flea control products can be bought and sold without a prescription, and therefore they may be listed on eBay.

Information on Veterinary products can be obtained from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Their website is : http://www.vmd.gov.uk

For similar information relating to Ireland, visit the Veterinary Medicines Section of the Irish Medicine Board's website http://www.imb.ie/.