Australian Community Pharmacy Authority Applicant's Handbook
Rule 103: Expansion or contraction
- Introduction
- The Application Process
- Other arrangements for obtaining approval
The Pharmacy Location Rules- Rule 101: Relocation within shopping centre or private hospital
- Rule 102: Relocation within rural locality
- Rule 103: Expansion or contraction
- Rule 104: Short distance relocation (1km)
- Rule 105: Short distance relocation (between 1 km and 1.5 km)
- Rule 106: Long distance relocation
- Rule 107: Relocation to rural locality (additional pharmacy)
- Rule 108: Relocation to urban locality (additional pharmacy)
- Rule 109: Relocation to small shopping centre
- Rule 110: Relocation to large shopping centre
- Rule 111: Relocation to private hospital
- Rule 112: Relocation to large medical centre
- Rule 113: New pharmacy (urban locality)
- Rule 114: New pharmacy (rural locality)
Requirements of the Pharmacy Location Rules
From 1 July 2006, applications for an expansion or contraction of the size of pharmacy premises no longer have to be considered by the ACPA. The Secretary has the power to approve or reject such an application without a recommendation by the ACPA. However, the Secretary has the discretion to refer such an application to the ACPA if he/she considers it should be assessed against the pharmacy location rules. For example, the Secretary may refer an application to the ACPA if he/she is not satisfied that the expanded or contracted premises will not be directly accessible from within a supermarket.
Policy intent
In instances where an application for an expansion or contraction has been referred to the ACPA, this rule aims to provide simplified requirements.Requirements
An application for an expansion or contraction must meet the requirements listed below.Please note that it is important to clearly identify the proposed premises that are the subject of an application, as well as the existing premises.
- The applicant has a legal right to occupy the proposed premises
- The proposed premises can be used for the purpose of operating a pharmacy
- The applicant will be ready to operate a pharmacy at the proposed premises within six months
- The proposed premises are not directly accessible by the public from within a supermarket
- The application is for an expansion or contraction of pharmacy premises in which the proposed premises will occupy any of the space occupied by the existing premises (See note below)
- An approval has been in force at the existing premises for at least two years or the application is of the type set out in the prescribed exceptions
Note:
An expansion or contraction of pharmacy premises is described in subsection 90(3AE) of the Act. It applies where an existing pharmacy is expanding or contracting its premises, and the expanded or contracted premises occupy any of the space occupied by the existing pharmacy premises. This does not include proposed and existing premises that share only a common wall - this would constitute a relocation (see Rule 104).
