Safe IMPORT Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2493
Sponsor: Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH]
Introduced: 2004-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accreditation (Medical care)
Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Advertising
Business records
Canada
Checks
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer credit
Consumer education
Credit cards
Crime and Law Enforcement
Customs administration
Deceptive advertising
Defective products
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Treasury
Directories
Drug approvals
Drug industry
Drug interactions
Drugs
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic commerce
Electronic data interchange
Electronic funds transfers
Electronic government information
Employee training
Europe
European Union
Ex-offenders
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Reserve System
Federal Trade Commission
Federal employees
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publications
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Health care fraud
Identification devices
Import restrictions
Imports
Independent regulatory commissions
Injunctions
Intellectual property
Internet
Labeling
Labor and Employment
Law
Liability (Law)
Licenses
Liens
Medical personnel
Medical records
National Credit Union Administration
Patients' rights
Pharmacies
Pharmacists
Physicians
Prescription pricing
Product counterfeiting
Product safety
Right of privacy
Sales promotion
Science, Technology, Communications
Searches and seizures
Securities and Exchange Commission
State employees
Telemarketing
Telephone
Trade secrets
User charges
Web sites
Wholesale trade

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: 
Safe Importation of Medical Products and Other Rx Therapies Act of 2004 or Safe IMPORT Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow individuals to import Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription drugs from Canada for personal use.
 
Permits the importation of prescription drugs from Canada by registered Internet pharmacies, pharmacies, or wholesalers in one year under specified conditions, including meeting proper labeling on all dispensed drugs to indicate that the drug has been imported. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate additional countries from which to allow importation in three years.
 
Requires the Secretary to give high priority to improving the information management systems of the FDA to improve the detection of intentionally adulterated prescription drugs.
 
Sets forth Internet pharmacy licensing requirements and procedures. Makes providers of interactive computer and advertising services liable for violations under this Act if such providers accept advertising: (1) for a prescription drug from an unlicensed Internet pharmacy; or (2) stating that an individual does not need a prescription to obtain a prescription drug.
 
Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations requiring designated payment systems, including credit card companies, to prevent sales by unlicensed Internet pharmacies.
 
 Allows the FDA to detain or temporarily hold prescription drug shipments based on credible information that a drug presents a risk to the public health.
 
Allows the Secretary to: (1) suspend or debar importation of a particular drug or dosage that poses such a risk or by a particular importer who violates Act requirements; (2) require owners of prescription drugs that have been refused admission into the United States to indicate that information on the drug containers; and (3) authorize other Federal and State officials to conduct inspections to enforce compliance with this Act
 
Deems to be misbranded a prescription drug offered for importation that has previously been refused admission, unless the person reoffering the drug affirmatively establishes that it complies with applicable requirements.
 
Sets forth anti-counterfeiting provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate