Virginia Law

A. The Board shall regulate the practice of pharmacy and the manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, processing, compounding, or disposal of drugs and devices. The Board shall also control the character and standard of all drugs, cosmetics, and devices within the Commonwealth, investigate all complaints as to the quality and strength of all drugs, cosmetics, and devices, and take such action as may be necessary to prevent the manufacturing, dispensing, selling, distributing, processing, compounding, and disposal of such drugs, cosmetics, and devices that do not conform to the requirements of law.

The Board's regulations shall include criteria for:

1. Maintenance of the quality, quantity, integrity, safety, and efficacy of drugs or devices distributed, dispensed, or administered.

2. Compliance with the prescriber's instructions regarding the drug and its quantity, quality, and directions for use.

3. Controls and safeguards against diversion of drugs or devices.

4. Maintenance of the integrity of, and public confidence in, the profession and improving the delivery of quality pharmaceutical services to the citizens of Virginia.

5. Maintenance of complete records of the nature, quantity, or quality of drugs or substances distributed or dispensed and of all transactions involving controlled substances or drugs or devices so as to provide adequate information to the patient, the practitioner, or the Board.

6. Control of factors contributing to abuse of legitimately obtained drugs, devices, or controlled substances.

7. Promotion of scientific or technical advances in the practice of pharmacy and the manufacture and distribution of controlled drugs, devices, or substances.

8. Impact on costs to the public and within the health care industry through the modification of mandatory practices and procedures not essential to meeting the criteria set out in subdivisions 1 through 7.

9. Such other factors as may be relevant to, and consistent with, the public health and safety and the cost of rendering pharmacy services.

B. The Board may collect and examine specimens of drugs, devices, and cosmetics that are manufactured, distributed, stored, or dispensed in the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, §§ 54-415, 54-416.1; 1954, c. 396; 1958, c. 551, § 54-524.16; 1970, c. 650, § 54-524.18; 1972, c. 798; 1980, c. 288; 1988, c. 765; 1995, c. 529; 1996, cc. 37, 407; 2005, c. 777; 2006, c. 632; 2016, c. 221; 2020, c. 1166; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.