The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a requires pharmacy businesses in New South Wales to be subject to approval of the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales and included on the Register of Pharmacies maintained by the Council.

Maintenance of a current approval is subject to payment of the annual renewal of pharmacy registration fee. The annual registration period for pharmacies is from 1 July to 30 June. Annual renewal notices are posted to 'the proprietor' of each pharmacy in May, with payment of the renewal of registration fee due by 30 June.

Proprietors should note that from 2017 the following will apply:

• Annual renewal payments made by the 30 June due date will result in the approval of pharmacy premises for a further 12 month period to 30 June in following year.
• Annual renewal payments made during July will incur a late fee of $80.00. Payment of the renewal fee and the late fee will result in the approval of pharmacy premises for a further 12 month period to 30 June the following year.
• Annual renewal payments will not be accepted after 31 July. Approval of pharmacy premises will be revoked, the pharmacy will be removed from the Register of Pharmacies and the Department of Human Services/Medicare will be notified if Council has not received payment of the relevant fee by 31 July. Proprietors wishing to obtain a current approval will be required to submit an application for a new pharmacy.    

Renewal of pharmacy registrations can be completed online through the Council's website. Users will be requested to login using the username and password provided with the renewal notice.

Any person who held a financial interest in a NSW pharmacy business at any time during the 12 month return period 1 May to 30 April, must complete an annual declaration regarding the interest. The declaration of financial interest in a pharmacy business must be completed even if the interest was divested or the pharmacy sold during that time.  

The due date for annual declarations is 30 June each year. Declarations are made online via the Council’s website. An email will be sent to each holder of a financial interest with instructions for completing the declaration.

Financial interests include direct and indirect monetary interests in a pharmacy business. Financial interests may be held by pharmacist proprietors, pharmacists who are partners in a pharmacists’ partnership that owns a pharmacy, and pharmacists who are shareholders, directors or beneficiaries in a pharmacists’ body corporate that owns a pharmacy.

Failure to submit a completed declaration by the due date is an offence under the  Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW)