109th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 334

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 9, 2005

Mr. DORGAN (for himself, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. MCCAIN, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. Lott, Mr. DAYTON, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KOHL, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. OBAMA, Mr. PRYOR, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. SCHUMER, and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions


A BILL

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

SEC. 3. REPEAL OF CERTAIN SECTION REGARDING IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

SEC. 4. IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS; WAIVER OF CERTAIN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS.

`SEC. 804. COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

`(aa) a therapeutic DNA plasmid product;

`(bb) a therapeutic synthetic peptide product;

`(cc) a monoclonal antibody product for in vivo use; and

`(dd) a therapeutic recombinant DNA-derived product;

`(AA) the training of pharmacists;

`(BB) the practice of pharmacy; and

`(CC) the protection of the privacy of personal medical information; and

`(aa) that require the review of drugs for safety and effectiveness by an entity of the government of the country;

`(bb) that authorize the approval of only those drugs that have been determined to be safe and effective by experts employed by or acting on behalf of such entity and qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs on the basis of adequate and well-controlled investigations, including clinical investigations, conducted by experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs;

`(cc) that require the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for the manufacture, processing, and packing of drugs in the country to be adequate to preserve their identity, quality, purity, and strength;

`(dd) for the reporting of adverse reactions to drugs and procedures to withdraw approval and remove drugs found not to be safe or effective; and

`(ee) that require the labeling and promotion of drugs to be in accordance with the approval of the drug.

`(aa) the variations provided for in the application; and

`(bb) any difference in labeling (except ingredient labeling); or

`(aa) the variations provided for in the application; and

`(bb) any difference in labeling (except ingredient labeling).

`(aa) include in the labeling provided under paragraph (3) a prominent advisory that the qualifying drug is safe and effective but is not bioequivalent to the U.S. label drug if the Secretary determines that such an advisory is necessary for health care practitioners and patients to use the qualifying drug safely and effectively; or

`(bb) decline to approve the difference if the Secretary determines that the availability of both the qualifying drug and the U.S. label drug would pose a threat to the public health.

`(aa) such inspection by the Secretary shall be authorized; and

`(bb) the Secretary may rely on a satisfactory report of a good manufacturing practice inspection of the establishment from a permitted country whose regulatory system the Secretary recognizes as equivalent under a mutual recognition agreement, as provided under section 510(i)(3), section 803, or part 26 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding successor rule or regulation).

`(aa) a notice is under review;

`(bb) the Secretary has ordered that importation of the qualifying drug from a permitted country cease; or

`(cc) the importation of the drug is permitted under subsection (a).

`(aa) a prominent notice that the ingredients of the qualifying drug differ from the ingredients of the U.S. label drug and that the qualifying drug must be dispensed with an advisory to people with allergies about this difference and a list of ingredients; and

`(bb) a list of the ingredients of the qualifying drug as would be required under section 502(e).

`(aa) a prominent advisory that persons with an allergy should check the ingredient list of the drug because the ingredients of the drug differ from the ingredients of the U.S. label drug; and

`(bb) a list of the ingredients of the drug as would be required under section 502(e); and

`(aa) written notice of that action; and

`(bb) a copy of the complaint for that action.

SEC. 5. DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN DRUGS DENIED ADMISSION INTO UNITED STATES.

`SEC. 805. DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN DRUGS DENIED ADMISSION.

SEC. 6. CIVIL ACTIONS REGARDING PROPERTY.

SEC. 7. WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS; STATEMENTS REGARDING PRIOR SALE, PURCHASE, OR TRADE.

SEC. 8. INTERNET SALES OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

`SEC. 503B. INTERNET SALES OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

SEC. 9. IMPORTATION EXEMPTION UNDER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IMPORT AND EXPORT ACT.

END