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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2006 |
Contact: Lale Mamaux
Phone: (202)225-3001
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Wexler Questions Bush Administration’s Announcement on Drug Reimportation
Sends Letter Urging President Bush to Clarify Position on New Prescription Drug Reimportation Policy
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) sent a letter to President Bush urging that he and his Administration immediately clarify an October 3, 2006 announcement made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) regarding its policy shift on prescription drug reimportation. USCBP spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger indicated in news reports that the agency would be returning to its previous policy, under which there were essentially no seizures of reimported prescription drugs.
Congressman Wexler’s staff contacted the USCBP and was told by a Customs official that the news media had not accurately portrayed the policy change and that the medications would actually be sent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This contradictory information raises serious questions about the Bush Administration’s new policy position – whether interdiction efforts will merely be shifted to the FDA and what the true impact of this policy shift will mean to American consumers facing skyrocketing drug costs. Wexler believes that the Bush Administration needs to fully explain the role of the FDA in this process and whether Americans will actually receive reimported prescription drugs being held by an agency that strongly opposes reimportation of pharmaceuticals. (Please find a copy of the letter below):
October 6, 2006
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
I am writing to express my concern regarding growing confusion over your Administration’s recent announcement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) has changed its policy and will now allow prescription drug importation from Canada.
Initially, I was optimistic that your Administration’s decision was an honest attempt to address the concerns of millions of Americans who are facing skyrocketing prescription drug costs. However, conflicting information that my office received calls into question the intention of Administration officials who have fought vociferously against reimportation, as well as what the true impact of this new policy means for Americans seeking to reimport affordable prescription drugs from Canada.
Mr. President, given the mounting confusion surrounding this policy shift, I request that you immediately clarify your Administration’s October 3, 2006 announcement released by USCBP, which states that “effective Oct. 9, Customs and Border Protection officers will no longer process non-controlled drugs under the November 2005 guidelines and, instead, will refer these interdictions to the Food and Drug Administration for eligibility determinations.”
Following the October 3 announcement, a number of media outlets and trade publications reported that USCBP officials will terminate the seizures of prescription drugs sent via mail to U.S. residents from Canadian pharmacies. In fact, according to a recent statement by USCBP spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger, the agency will be returning to its previous policy, under which there were essentially no seizures.
Although your Administration’s new directive seems to open the way for unfettered drug reimportation -- further review of this matter has revealed potentially misleading statements by USCBP and an unacceptable policy that is nothing more than a shell game. It also gives millions of Americans an erroneous impression that the federal government is no longer in the business of seizing prescription drugs imported from Canada.
According to conversations with staff at USCBP, this policy shift is not as advertised and will not fully suspend the Administration’s interdiction efforts that have resulted in an estimated 40,000 importation seizures. In fact, USCBP officials indicated that they will begin diverting seized contraband to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If this is in fact the case, it would appear as though prescription importation into the U.S. from Canada will continue to be subject to government interdiction, but merely by a different agency. The bottom line is that Americans will still be denied access to the vital prescription medications they need.
President Bush, I am therefore requesting a full and immediate clarification of the Administration’s October 3 policy announcement regarding prescription drug importation. I believe there are legitimate questions to be answered as to whether this new policy amounts to a substantive change to the status quo or is nothing more than a fig leaf for an Administration that has consistently opposed drug reimportation from Canada. Furthermore, if the news media has been inaccurately portraying this policy shift or reporting any misinformation regarding these new guidelines, it is incumbent upon your Administration to immediately notify them of the corrected policy. One thing is for certain: your Administration should not be giving Americans false hopes, especially as they continue to encounter enormous hurdles in purchasing prescription drugs.
Your prompt attention and response to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Robert Wexler
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