Gregg introduces importation bill

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, introduced legislation on Wednesday that seeks to legalize the importation of pharmaceuticals. The Safe Importing of Medical Products and RX Therapies Act would allow individuals to import from Canada a 90-day supply of FDA-approved drugs manufactured in FDA-approved facilities.

Within a year, pharmacies and wholesalers would be permitted to import commercial quantities of prescription drugs from Canada. The bill mandates user fees for commercial importers that would pay for FDA inspection of imported drugs. Two years after the pharmacy and wholesaler importation provisions become effective, FDA could permit importation from countries that were members of the European Union prior to Dec. 31, 2003. ...