Perspective               

FDA to Crack Down on Canadian Prescription Drug Sales

In a recent letter, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned third-party groups-including health insurance firms, pharmacies, and wholesalers-that they may be held civilly and criminally responsible for reimporting drugs from Canada for U.S. consumers. The FDA did not specify how it would punish violators, but said consumers who buy drugs from Canada would not be an "enforcement priority." The FDA has traditionally allowed consumers in the United States to import a 90-day supply of prescription drugs for their personal use.

Several drug companies have already moved to block reimportation of medications from Canada. Eli Lilly has informed Canadian wholesalers that sales to the U.S. would be a contractual violation, and GlaxoSmithKline has promised to stop supplies to Canadian pharmacies that ship prescription drugs to customers in the United States.

Consumer advocates maintain that many older and disabled Americans will not be able to find an alternative and will end up going without needed medicines if their Canadian pharmacy is cut off. Contrary to what many drug companies say, consumers have not faced danger in purchasing medicine in Canada. The danger they face is going without the medicines their doctors have prescribed.

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