Parapharmacy refers to a category of health and personal-care products sold outside the pharmacist's monopoly that exists in many European countries. In jurisdictions including France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal, the term is legally defined and distinguishes products that may be sold without a pharmacist's intermediation — dermocosmetics, food supplements, certain low-risk medical devices, oral hygiene, infant care, and herbal preparations — from prescription-only and pharmacist-only medicines.
This site documents how parapharmacy is defined and regulated in each major European jurisdiction, summarizes the European Union regulations that govern these products, provides reference entries on common active ingredients, and offers guides to thinking about the principal product categories.
It is written for general readers, students, journalists, expatriates, and importers who need an English-language source on a domain that is primarily documented in French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
This is a reference resource. It does not provide medical advice, product recommendations, or treatment guidance. For health questions specific to your situation, consult a qualified pharmacist or physician.
I — Foundations
What parapharmacy is, by jurisdiction
The concept of parapharmacy is country-specific. These pages set out the legal definition and scope in each major European jurisdiction, the distinction from pharmacies, and the history of how this category emerged.
II — Regulation
EU and national frameworks
Products sold in parapharmacies fall under several EU regimes — cosmetics, medical devices, food supplements, biocides. These pages summarize the principal regulations, what they require, and which authorities enforce them.
III — Active Ingredients
Reference entries on common compounds
Entries on compounds frequently found in dermocosmetics and over-the-counter preparations sold in parapharmacies. Each covers properties, typical uses, regulatory status, evidence summary, and known contraindications.
IV — Product Categories
How to think about each category
What the products are for, how they differ, what standards apply, what to look for on the label. Written to support understanding, not purchasing decisions.
V — Terminology
Glossary, translations, label literacy
Technical and legal vocabulary, a multilingual reference for parapharmacy terms across major European languages, and a practical guide to reading INCI ingredient lists.
VI — Sources
Where to verify and read further
Annotated links to primary regulatory documents, national health authorities, professional bodies, and evidence databases — for verifying claims and conducting further research.