Assignment guidance
When MCC 5912 should be used
- For retail pharmacies and drug stores dispensing prescription or proprietary medicines.
- For merchants where pharmacy and related health products form the primary business.
Retail
MCC 5912
Drug stores and pharmacies
Retail pharmacies and drug stores dispensing medicines and selling related health products.
Boundary guidance
When MCC 5912 should not be used
- For wholesale drug distributors, hospitals, doctors, or other medical providers.
- For general retailers where pharmacy sales are only incidental to another primary business.
Scheme comparison
Names and evidence status
Absence from public material is not treated as proof that a scheme does not use the MCC.
| Scheme | Evidence | Scheme wording | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | Official | Drug Stores and PharmaciesGlobal Visa merchant-data manual, April 2026, PDF page 78. | Aligned wording |
| Mastercard | Official | Drug Stores, PharmaciesMastercard Merchant Edition reference, 16 April 2024, PDF page 123. | Different wording |
| American Express | Publicly not found | No current public definition locatedThe complete American Express Codes Reference Guide is not public. This is not evidence that the MCC is unsupported. | Not available |
| Discover / Diners Club | Publicly not found | No current public definition locatedNo complete current public Discover / Diners Club MCC catalogue was located. This is not evidence that the MCC is unsupported. | Not available |
| UnionPay | Not reviewed | No global definition reviewedThe official material reviewed so far is limited to EEA fee appendices and is not a global definition catalogue. | Not available |
Provenance
Sources reviewed
- Visa Merchant Data Standards ManualApril 2026 · global · official · PDF page 78
- Mastercard Quick Reference Booklet - Merchant Edition16 April 2024 · official · PDF page 123
SchemeLens descriptions and use boundaries are editorial summaries of the cited material. Final MCC assignment depends on the merchant's primary business, current scheme rules, region, programme, and acquirer requirements.