(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Germany over its restrictions on the ownership of pharmacies, a spokeswoman said Friday.

The EU's executive arm is upset at a German ban on "multiple ownership" of pharmacies, a problem for the kind of major pharmacy chains seen in Britain, France and elsewhere.

"The commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to Germany," over the restrictions, a spokeswoman for EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy told AFP.

According to German chemists' federation BVDA, under the current rules a trained pharmacist is allowed to run one main pharmacy and no more than three affiliates.

The Commission, while understanding that the rule is in place for health and safety reasons, feels there could be a less restrictive alternative.

"We think that some of the restrictions on ownership which the Germans have in place, for the aim of protecting public health, can be met by other less restrictive measures, for example by requiring the obligatory presence of a pharmacist on the premises" in every outlet, she said.

"You would achieve the objective of protecting public health and you wouldn't need to have restrictions on ownership," she added.

The official commission letter, the first step in an infringement procedure which could lead to a large fine or a date in the European courts, gives the German authorities two months to provide information on how the system works and why it is deemed necessary.

The spokeswoman said the letter would be sent later Friday or on Monday.

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