Want to stay current on e–commerce law? Sign up for Email Newsletter.
Rhode Island Decides to Licence Canadian Online Pharmacies
A state law allowing Canadian pharmacies to obtain licenses to sell prescription drugs to customers in Rhode Island recently came into effect, even though it conflicts with a federal ban on drug importation. Rhode Island is now the first state to allow its residents to import less expensive drugs from Canada (though some other states and cities in the U.S. have started buying prescription medicine from Canada).
The Rhode Island Health Department will approve and license Canadian pharmacies, upon application, to import certain drugs to Rhode Island residents.
Despite the federal ban, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet acted against municipalities that have purchased drugs from Canada or states which have established Internet sites to help Americans buy drugs from Canadian pharmacies. Whether, and how, the FDA will respond to the Rhode Island legislation remains to be seen.
However, pharmaceutical providers themselves are taking steps to prevent Canadian pharmacies from exporting drugs to the US. Last week Merck & Co. joined Pfizer Inc., AstraZeneca Plc and Wyeth in shutting off sales to Canadian pharmacies that export to the U.S.
For additional information, visit:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=ai9RdezyHWRE&refer=canada