Frequently Asked Questions about Licensing - Drug Manufacturers and Distributors
I manufacture my own drugs and I also distribute other manufacturer’s drugs. Do I need two licenses?
No. Manufacturers who also distribute other manufacturer’s drugs at the same location only need to license as a drug manufacturer. However, the licensing fee is based on the gross annual sales of both the manufactured and distributed items. A firm that manufactures or distributes at more than one physical location must license each location according to the activities conducted at the particular location.
In addition to distributing nonprescription drugs, I also intend to distribute food, compressed medical gases and/or medical devices. What type of license do I need?
In order to be eligible for a Multiple Products License, you must be distributing at least two of the following: nonprescription drugs, food, compressed medical gases and\or medical devices. A separate license is needed if you are doing any manufacturing or distribution of prescription drugs other than compressed medical gases. Please visit our Licensing Requirements page for further information.
Can my private residence be licensed as a drug manufacturer or distributor?
No manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding of prescription or nonprescription drugs shall be conducted in any personal residence.
My company is a corporation and your license application form asks for a Registered Agent. Who is that?
The Texas Business Organizations Code ("BOC") requires every domestic or foreign filing entity to maintain a registered agent and office in Texas. The BOC also permits the filing of an appointment of agent for service of process by an unincorporated nonprofit association. Additionally, the Texas Finance Code permits a Texas financial institution to appoint an agent for service of process. An entity’s registered agent is an agent of the entity on whom may be served any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the entity. Section 5.201(b) of the BOC requires that registered agents designated on or after January 1, 2010 must have consented to serve in that capacity in a written or electronic form developed by the Office of the Secretary of State. See Form 401-A (PDF, 38KB) and 1 Tex. Admin. Code §79.29.
If you do not know the name of your Registered Agent, you should be able to obtain it from your corporation’s Franchise Tax Account Status on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Taxable Entity Search webpage.
What is a Taxpayer I.D. number?
The requirement to obtain a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit applies to individuals as well as corporations, firms, partnerships, and all other legal entities. You must obtain a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit if you are engaged in business in Texas and you: sell tangible personal property in Texas; lease tangible personal property in Texas; or sell taxable services in Texas. For more information, please visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website.
Who can sign a license application form?
We must have the signature of a person who can legally bind the firm to the affirmation statement on the first page of the license application form. Refer to The Texas Statutes, Business Corporation Act.
I have moved. I have changed the name of my company. I have changed the legal entity of my company. I have sold my company. Does that affect my license?
Yes. The rules require the license holder to notify the department in writing within ten days of any change which would render the information contained in the application for the license to be no longer accurate. Moving, changing the name of your company and/or changing the legal entity of your company requires you to submit a license application form and pay a fee before the change occurs. If you sell your company, you will need to send us written correspondence so that we can remove you from our records. The new owner will be required to obtain a new license, as licenses are non-transferable.
I no longer do anything that requires me to continue to license. Does the Food and Drug Licensing Office need to know that?
Yes. The Rules require the license holder to notify the department in writing within 10 days of any change which would render the information contained in the application for the license to be no longer accurate. If you know you no longer need to license, notify us in writing as soon as possible. State you no longer need to license, document the date your business ceased operations requiring a license, sign your written statement, and mail to RLU, Food and Drug Licensing Group MC 2835, Texas Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 149347, Austin, TX 78714-9347. If you receive a license renewal application form, check the box on the second page that states “Notice that firm is out of business” or “not required to license/permit”, sign and date the signature box on the first page, and return to us. Phone contact with us alone will not suffice for adequate notification of a change in your operational status.