Canadian Government Introduces Internet Pharmacy Bill

Bill C-83, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (drug export restrictions), was given first reading in the House of Commons on Friday, November 25, 2005. The legislation (Amendments) was tabled in an effort to respond to US legislative efforts to legalize bulk imports of cheaper brand-name Canadian drugs and to create an early warning system for drug shortages. The Amendments would require stakeholders to provide a range of information to the federal Minister of Health and by giving the Minister the power to prohibit exports and to limit the extent of pharmaceutical sales from Internet pharmacies. These special powers, to be set out in the Food and Drugs Act (Act), would be become available if in the opinion of the Minister there was a shortage or there was likely to be a shortage of a drug or a class of drug and if taking this action were necessary to protect human health. An order would cease to have effect unless confirmed by the federal Cabinet within 14 days after it is made. In order to enforce the new requirements for information disclosure by manufacturers, importers, exporters and sellers, the Minister would be granted much broader powers of inspection and enforcement, and the penalties for all contraventions of the Act, except those relating to food, would be substantially increased. As with all legislation which had not received Royal Assent before late November when the Government fell and a general election was called, Bill C-83 "died on the Order Paper". Following the formation of a new Government, Bill C-83 may be re-introduced into Parliament in its present or a different form. For the full text of Bill C-83, visit: http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z1D92254C Summary by: Katharine McGinnis