New or Relocating pharmacy
Pharmacy Location Rules
Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA)
ACPA Meeting Dates
Notification of ACPA Recommendations
ACPA recommends that an application be approved
ACPA recommends that an application not be approved
ACPA defers making a recommendation on an application
Surrounding pharmacists who provided comments on an application
How do I contact the ACPA?
From – Privacy Note
New or Relocating pharmacy
Pharmacists must apply to the Secretary of the Department of Health under section 90 of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act). to seek approval to:
- supply Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines at new pharmacy premises; or
- relocate an existing pharmacy that is approved to supply PBS medicines to other premises.
Applications are considered by the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA) which makes a recommendation to the Secretary. Before applying please see the:
To apply for approval to establish a new pharmacy, or to relocate an existing pharmacy, the pharmacist will need to:
If an application is recommended, prior to delegate approval, the applicant will need to obtain approval from the relevant state or territory regulatory authority to operate a pharmacy business at the proposed premises or, for Queensland applicants, provide a copy of the form submitted to Queensland Health.
Pharmacy Location Rules
The Rules relate to the establishment of a new pharmacy or the relocation of an existing pharmacy which has approval to provide PBS medicines under section 90 of the
Act.
The Rules are legislated under the
National Health (Australian Community Pharmacy Authority Rules) Determination 2018 made under section 99L of the Act.
The Rules set out location-based criteria which must be met in order for the ACPA to recommend approval of a pharmacist. The ACPA cannot override the requirements of the Rules and can only recommend that an application be approved if it is satisfied that all of the requirements of the item, under which the application was made, have been met.
The Rules remain consistent with the overall objective of the National Medicines Policy to improve the health outcomes of all Australians through access to and quality use of medicines.
Applicants wishing to lodge an application for consideration under the Rules, are required to lodge the application with the Department of Health, via the
PBS Approved Suppliers Portal.
Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA)
The ACPA is an independent statutory authority established under section 99J of the Act.
The ACPA has six part-time members, five of whom are appointed by the Minister and one appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health (the Secretary).
The ACPA considers applications for approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits under section 90 of the Act and makes recommendations to delegated officers as to whether or not an application should be approved.
In making its recommendation to the Secretary’s delegate, the ACPA must comply with the requirements specified in the
Rules as determined by the Minister. The ACPA can only make a recommendation that an application be approved if it finds that all of the relevant requirements of the Rules are met.
Applications for approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits under section 90 of the Act
The Pharmacy Location Rules – Applicant’s Handbook provides pharmacists with comprehensive information about:
- the Rules and the ACPA;
- the application process including the requirements that must be satisfied and the types of information that must be included in an application; and
- seeking further information or assistance.
It is up to the applicant to select the item which best suits their situation as each item has different requirements. Applicants must satisfy all of the requirements for a particular item if they are to receive a recommendation for approval from the ACPA.
Applications and associated forms must be lodged via the
PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. Further information is available from the Department of Health website at
How to apply to become a PBS approved supplier – information for pharmacists. If you require further assistance, please call PBS Approved Suppliers on 1800 316 389.
ACPA Meeting dates
The ACPA meeting dates for the remainder of 2020 and 2021, and the corresponding application lodgement timeframes for complete applications to be received by the Department of Health, are outlined in the table below.
Please note these dates are subject to change.
Table current as at 21 September 2020
| ACPA Meeting date |
Timeframe to lodge an Application |
Timeframe to lodge an Application |
| Friday |
From |
To |
09 October 2020 |
Tuesday 04 August 2020 |
Monday 07 September 2020 |
13 November 2020 |
Tuesday 08 September 2020 |
Monday 12 October 2020 |
11 December 2020 |
Tuesday 13 October 2020 |
Monday 09 November 2020 |
05 February 2021 |
Tuesday 10 November 2020 |
Thursday 17 December 2020 |
12 March 2021 |
Friday 18 December 2020 |
Thursday 11 February 2021 |
16 April 2021 |
Friday 12 February 2021 |
Thursday 18 March 2021 |
21 May 2021 |
Friday 19 March 2021 |
Thursday 22 April 2021 |
25 June 2021 |
Friday 23 April 2021 |
Thursday 27 May 2021 |
30 July 2021 |
Friday 28 May 2021 |
Thursday 01 July 2021 |
03 September 2021 |
Friday 02 July 2021 |
Thursday 05 August 2021 |
08 October 2021 |
Friday 06 August 2021 |
Thursday 09 September 2021 |
12 November 2021 |
Friday 10 September 2021 |
Thursday 14 October 2021 |
10 December 2021 |
Friday 15 October 2021 |
Thursday 18 November 2021 |
04 February 2022 |
Friday 19 November 2021 |
Thursday 16 December 2021 |
Note: Application lodgement timeframes are to ensure that the Department of Health and the ACPA Secretariat have sufficient time to process and register applications (subject to the application being complete), undertake consultation with third parties where relevant and for the ACPA to give proper consideration of applications.
Notification of ACPA Recommendations
The ACPA Secretariat will endeavour to advise applicants of the outcome of their application, by email, on the next working day after the meeting.
More detailed correspondence will follow as outlined below:
ACPA recommends that an application be approved
If the ACPA has made a decision to recommend that an application be approved, in most cases the Secretary’s delegate will be advised of the decision the
next working day after the meeting.
Note: If the recommendation by the ACPA is to approve the application, the relevant delegate in the Department of Health is responsible for granting the approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits. However, the delegate may also reject the application even if approval has been recommended by the ACPA.
ACPA recommends that an application not be approved
If the ACPA has made a decision to recommend that an application not be approved, it will endeavour to inform the applicant of the decision, including the reason(s) for the decision and the rights of review,
within ten working days after the meeting.
ACPA defers making a recommendation on an application
If the ACPA defers consideration of the application to the next meeting, the Secretariat will endeavour to advise the applicant of the reasons for the deferral
within five working days after the meeting.
Surrounding pharmacists who provided comments on an application
The ACPA will endeavour to advise the outcome of an application to any pharmacist/s who provided comments to the ACPA, as soon as practicable, but generally no sooner than
ten working days after a meeting. Please note that the ACPA does not advise surrounding pharmacists of the meeting outcome if the ACPA has deferred making a recommendation.
How do I contact the ACPA?
For any queries, please email details of your enquiry to
acpamail@health.gov.au or call the PBS Approved Suppliers Information Lineon 1800 316 389.
Form - Privacy Note
The Australian Government Department of Health (the Department) is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
The Department is collecting personal information that you provide in the relevant Form for the purposes of assessing the application or processing the notification (as the case may be). The collection of the personal information is authorised under the
National Health Act 1953 (Cth) and delegated legislation under that Act.
For further information, please visit
Privacy and your personal information.
