Wholesale Drug Distributors in Arkansas

Wholesale drug distributors operating in Arkansas or shipping prescription drugs into the state must obtain a Wholesale Distributor of Prescription (Legend) Drugs Permit from the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. Arkansas requires all distributors—resident and non-resident—to maintain an Arkansas-licensed Pharmacist in Charge working on-site at least 32 hours per week, a stricter standard than most states. Permits are biennial, expiring December 31 of even-numbered years.

The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy (ASBP) regulates wholesale drug distribution under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-64-504 through § 20-64-508 and administrative rules at 17 CAR § 160-2601 through § 160-2611. The Board derives its rulemaking authority from Ark. Code Ann. § 20-64-507, which requires compliance with the federal Prescription Drug Marketing Act and 21 C.F.R. § 205 minimum standards.

Any person or entity engaged in wholesale distribution of prescription drugs—manufacturing in Arkansas, shipping into Arkansas, or selling within Arkansas—must hold a valid permit under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-64-505.

Arkansas uses a broad statutory definition of "wholesale distributor" that encompasses manufacturers, repackers, own-label distributors, private label distributors, jobbers, brokers, warehouses, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, HMOs, and retail/hospital pharmacies conducting wholesale distributions.

Wholesale distribution does not include:

Applications must include all of the following: