Clinton to Sign Bill for Reimportation of Cheaper Prescription Drugs in U.S.
By Pamela Appea
Aging News Alert, Congress
October 24, 2000
Copyright 2000 by Community Development Publications
President Clinton is expected to sign a measure allowing FDA-approved pharmaceuticals to be re-imported to the United States.
The re-importation measure is part of the Agricultural Appropriations Conference Report (HR 4461; S2536) approved by the House and Senate, but U.S. pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists continue to lobby against the bill, saying it could permit counterfeit and possibly substandard or dangerous drugs to reach U.S. consumers.
A spokesperson for the bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Jim Jeffords (R-Vt.) says the only drugs that will be re-imported were made in the U.S. or in some cases produced in FDA-approved facilities abroad.
Info: Jeffords, 202/224-6770.
