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Ryan Votes to Allow Wisconsinites Access to Re-Imported Prescription Drugs

WASHINGTON – Wisconsin’s First District Congressman Paul Ryan voted in favor of H.R. 2427, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act, legislation that would enable pharmacists, wholesalers, and qualifying individuals to import prescription drugs into the United States from certain countries.  The measure passed the House early this morning by a vote of 243-186.   

“Wisconsinites should be able to get safe, affordable prescription drugs from Canada or other countries if they wish,” Ryan said. “Right now Americans wind up paying more for the same medications than our neighbors.  For too long, we have been footing the bill for cheap drugs across the border.  This isn’t fair, and it needs to end.  The rest of the world has been getting a free ride on the backs of American consumers when it comes to prescription drugs.  It’s time for us to stop being a crutch for foreign price controls and move toward a free market in pharmaceuticals – giving Americans greater freedom to buy imported or re-imported prescription drugs, as long as careful steps are taken to ensure their safety.”  

Under the legislation, imported prescription drugs must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and be produced in FDA-approved facilities.  Among its other safeguards, the bill would also require future packaging for drugs to incorporate counterfeit-resistant technologies similar to those used to secure United States currency and capable of demonstrating product authenticity when viewed with the naked eye. 

Furthermore, the measure provides that the countries from which prescription drugs could be imported are limited to Canada, members of the European Union, Australia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and South Africa. 

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