Gutknecht and Burton Introduce Legislation to Combat Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

Gutknecht and Burton Introduce Legislation to Combat Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

3.1.2006

Washington, DC - Congressman Gil Gutknecht (MN-01) and Congressman Dan Burton (IN-05) today introduced legislation to prevent the distribution of counterfeit prescription drugs. The Reducing Fraudulent and Imitation Drugs Act of 2006 calls for the incorporation of counterfeit-resistant tools, such as track-and-trace technologies and blister packs, into the packaging of prescription drugs.

"This bill is about protecting consumers from counterfeit drugs" said Gutknecht. "Track-and-trace technology is already in use to ensure the authenticity of software, electronics, and even livestock. American consumers should have the same confidence in the prescription drugs they need every day."

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 10 percent of global pharmaceutical commerce is counterfeit, and that the number is expected to double by the year 2010. The Reducing Fraudulent and Imitation Drugs Act of 2006 calls upon the Food and Drug Administration to mandate radio frequency identification (RFID) technology or similar track-and-trace supply chain tools by the year 2008 - in order to ensure the safety of American drugs from manufacturers to patients.

"This legislation is about safety and security; nothing more," said Burton. "We need to ensure that when American's take their drugs they are the drugs prescribed, not those that have been counterfeited for profit."

http://www.gilg.org/media/2006/MAR/030106pd.html