US Senate Voted Against Proposed Amendment to Allow Drug Importation to Consumers

The United States Senate voted against the proposed amendment to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety and Innovation Act that would have allowed drug importation from Canadian pharmacies on May 24, 2012. The amendment failed in a vote of 43 to 54, as reported by the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM). Subsequently, the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, without the amendment, passed the Senate by a vote of 96 to 1. On May 21, 2012, PSM sent a letter urging senators “to consider the dangers associated with opening the United States’ border to Canadian drug importation,” and NABP was among 34 groups that supported the letter. NABP also issued a press release indicating the Association’s support for PSM’s letter.