As of June 1, 2025, all pharmacies must have a sink with hot and cold running water in the dispensary. This requirement was added to the Standards for the Operation of Licensed Pharmacies (SOLP) on June 1, 2022, and existing pharmacies were given three years to make any necessary changes. The sink must be easy to reach for hand hygiene and located outside of segregated compounding rooms. This requirement is still in place under the new SOLP which took effect February 1, 2025. A sink in a washroom, office, or counselling room does not meet this standard. The sink must be available in the dispensary for all pharmacy team members to use at any time.
If your pharmacy does not have a sink in the dispensary that is readily accessible for hand hygiene at all times, you may need to renovate your pharmacy. Before making any physical changes to the pharmacy, including renovations to meet SOLP requirements, you must submit a renovation application (including the proposed floor plan and fee) through myACP. The college must approve your plan before you start any work. Once done, the changes will be inspected to make sure they follow the SOLP.
To learn how to apply for a renovation, visit the renovation page on the ACP website. Since the new standards are now in place, more changes may be needed. Pharmacy licensees should review the new standards carefully to make sure they meet all the requirements.
