Where to find the MHRA's suspended license list and what it shows
The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) publishes a list of suspended pharmacy licenses and medicine authorizations on its public website. This list shows which pharmacies, wholesalers, manufacturers, and other medicine businesses have had their licenses suspended by the regulator — meaning they are not currently allowed to operate legally in the UK.
The list is free to search and updated regularly. You can use it to check whether a pharmacy or medicine supplier you are considering is currently licensed to operate, or to understand why a business you know has stopped trading.
The MHRA maintains separate lists for different types of suspensions and different types of businesses. The main ones you will encounter are pharmacy suspensions (retail and hospital pharmacies), wholesale dealer suspensions, and manufacturer suspensions. Each list is searchable by business name, location, or the date the suspension took effect.
Key Takeaways
- The MHRA publishes a free, searchable list of suspended licenses on its website at mhra.gov.uk, updated regularly as suspensions are issued or lifted.
- The list covers pharmacies, wholesalers, manufacturers, and other medicine businesses — you can search by business name, town, or the date of suspension.
- A suspension means the business is not legally allowed to operate; it is different from a closure, which may be temporary or permanent for other reasons.
- You can check the list before using a pharmacy or ordering medicines online to confirm the business holds a current license.
- The MHRA also publishes enforcement action notices that explain why a suspension was issued, usually available through the same search tool or by contacting the MHRA directly.
How to search the MHRA suspended licenses database
Go to the MHRA website (mhra.gov.uk) and look for the "Enforcement" or "Suspensions" section. The exact page name changes occasionally, but the current route is usually under "Medicines" or "Regulatory information". You can also search the MHRA site directly for "suspended licenses" or "enforcement action".
Once you reach the list, you will see a search box. Enter the name of the pharmacy, wholesaler, or manufacturer you want to check. The search is not case-sensitive and will return partial matches — so typing "Smith Pharmacy" will show you "Smith's Pharmacy Leeds" and similar results. You can also filter by location (town or postcode) or by the type of business (retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, wholesale dealer, and so on).
Each result shows the business name, address, the date the suspension took effect, and sometimes a brief reason. Click on the business name to see the full enforcement notice, which explains what the MHRA found and why the suspension was issued. This notice is a public document and is the most reliable source for understanding what happened.
What a suspension means and how it differs from closure
A suspension is a formal regulatory action by the MHRA. It means the business is not allowed to supply medicines or operate as a pharmacy until the suspension is lifted. The business cannot legally trade during a suspension, and doing so is a criminal offense. Suspensions are usually issued when the MHRA finds serious breaches of pharmacy law — for example, poor storage of medicines, failure to keep proper records, or supplying medicines without proper checks.
A closure is different. A pharmacy may close for many reasons — the owner retiring, the lease ending, a move to a new location, or financial difficulty — none of which involve the MHRA. A closed pharmacy is not necessarily on the suspended list. Conversely, a suspended pharmacy is closed by law, but the suspension is a regulatory action, not a business decision.
Suspensions can be temporary or permanent. A temporary suspension may be lifted once the business has fixed the problems the MHRA identified and passed a follow-up inspection. A permanent suspension means the MHRA has removed the license entirely and the business cannot reopen as a pharmacy. The enforcement notice will usually indicate which type of suspension has been issued.
Why the MHRA suspends licenses
The MHRA suspends pharmacy and medicine licenses when it finds evidence of serious breaches of pharmacy law or good practice. Common reasons include unsafe storage of medicines (for example, medicines kept at the wrong temperature or in unlocked areas), failure to keep proper records of who supplied or received medicines, dispensing medicines without proper checks or prescriptions, employing staff without proper qualifications, or failing to report safety issues with medicines to the MHRA.
The MHRA may also suspend a license if a pharmacy fails to cooperate with an inspection, refuses to provide records, or continues to breach regulations after being warned. In some cases, a suspension is issued as an emergency measure — for example, if the MHRA discovers that a pharmacy is supplying counterfeit or contaminated medicines, it may suspend the license when ready to protect public safety, even before a full investigation is complete.
Suspensions are not issued lightly. The MHRA usually gives a pharmacy a chance to fix problems through warning letters or compliance notices before issuing a suspension. A suspension on the public list means the MHRA has decided the breach is serious enough to stop the business from operating.
How to check if an online pharmacy is licensed
If you are ordering medicines online, you should always check that the pharmacy holds a current UK license before placing an order. Start by searching the MHRA suspended list — if the pharmacy appears on it, do not use it. Then check the pharmacy's own website for its MHRA registration number (usually displayed prominently, often as a logo or in the footer). This is a five-digit number that begins with a letter.
You can verify this registration number by searching the MHRA's register of licensed pharmacies on the same website. This is a separate database from the suspended list — it shows all currently licensed pharmacies. If the pharmacy's registration number is not on the active register and does not appear on the suspended list, the pharmacy may not be licensed at all, which means it is operating illegally.
Be cautious of online pharmacies that do not display a registration number, claim to be based in the UK but have no verifiable address, or offer medicines at prices far below the market rate. These are common signs of unlicensed or counterfeit suppliers. The MHRA publishes a separate list of illegal online pharmacies if you want to report one or check whether a site you have encountered is known to the regulator.
What to do if you find a pharmacy on the suspended list
If you have been using a pharmacy and discover it is on the suspended list, stop using it when ready. Do not order medicines from it or visit it in person. If you have already received medicines from a suspended pharmacy, contact your GP or a different licensed pharmacy to discuss whether the medicines are safe to use. In most cases, medicines supplied by a suspended pharmacy are not dangerous — the suspension is usually about record-keeping or storage rather than the quality of the medicines themselves — but your GP can advise you based on your specific situation.
If you have paid for medicines that were not delivered because the pharmacy was suspended, you may be able to claim a refund through your bank or credit card company, especially if the suspension happened after you paid but before the order was fulfilled. Keep any emails or receipts as evidence.
You can also report the suspended pharmacy to the MHRA if you believe it is still operating illegally despite the suspension. The MHRA has a reporting form on its website, or you can contact the enforcement team directly. Reports are treated confidentially.
How suspensions are lifted and what happens next
A suspension can be lifted in two ways: the business can appeal the suspension through the courts, or it can demonstrate to the MHRA that the problems have been fixed and request that the suspension be removed. The second route is more common. The pharmacy must usually pass a full inspection by MHRA inspectors, provide evidence that staff have been retrained, and show that new systems are in place to prevent the breach from happening again.
The process of lifting a suspension can take several months. During this time, the pharmacy remains on the suspended list and cannot legally operate. Once the MHRA is satisfied, it issues a letter lifting the suspension, and the pharmacy is removed from the public list. The pharmacy can then reopen and resume trading, though it may face closer monitoring for a period afterward.
Some suspensions are never lifted because the business does not attempt to fix the problems, or because the MHRA decides the breach was too serious. In these cases, the suspension becomes permanent and the license is cancelled. The pharmacy remains on the suspended list indefinitely as a record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the MHRA suspended licenses list updated?
The list is updated as suspensions are issued and lifted, usually within a few days of the MHRA's decision. There is no fixed schedule — it depends on how many enforcement actions the MHRA is taking at any given time. You can check the list at any time, and the information should be current.
Can I see why a pharmacy was suspended?
Yes. Each suspension on the MHRA list includes a link to the enforcement notice, which is a public document that explains what the MHRA found and why the suspension was issued. The notice may also describe what the pharmacy must do to have the suspension lifted. If the link is not available on the list itself, you can contact the MHRA directly and request the enforcement notice by name and address of the pharmacy.
Is a pharmacy on the suspended list the same as a pharmacy that has closed?
No. A suspended pharmacy is closed by law because of a regulatory breach. A closed pharmacy may have closed for any reason — retirement, relocation, financial difficulty — and may not be on the suspended list at all. However, all suspended pharmacies are closed; they cannot legally operate while suspended.
What should I do if I ordered medicines from a pharmacy that is now suspended?
Contact the pharmacy first to ask about your order. If the pharmacy is no longer responding, contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge or request a refund. If you received the medicines, they are usually safe to use — most suspensions are about record-keeping or storage, not medicine quality — but ask your GP if you are concerned. Report the pharmacy to the MHRA if you believe it is still operating illegally.
Can I appeal if my pharmacy receives a suspension?
Yes. A pharmacy can appeal a suspension through the courts or can request that the MHRA lift the suspension once the problems have been fixed. The pharmacy must usually pass a full inspection and provide evidence that new systems are in place. The MHRA's enforcement notice will explain the appeal process and the steps needed to have the suspension lifted.