The Senate effectively killed a bid to allow consumers to buy pharmaceuticals abroad, because an amendment was passed by a 49-490 vote that would require the FDA safety and effectiveness. And the FDA continues to maintain such verification is impossible.

The move undercut a second measure that would permit from FDA-approved sources in Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan and New Zealand. The White House opposes imports and threatened a veto.

Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, called the certification amendment a “poison pill.” It was introduced by Thad Cochran, a Republican from Mississippi. Byron Dorgan, a Democrat from North Dakota, acknowledged it voided his bid to allow imports. Both measures were amendments to the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which expires in September.

The idea of allowing prescription drug imports enjoys broad popular support. However, lower prices overseas would not automatically translate into large savings for domestic consumers, according to a 2004 study by the Congressional Budget Office.

The study found that allowing drug imports from a broad set of countries would cut U.S. drug spending by $40 billion over 10 years, about a 1 percent savings. Drugmakers oppose imports, arguing that they could leave the nation vulnerable to dangerous counterfeits.

Similar legislation is pending in the House.

Source: The AssociatedPress.[tags]Canada, Reimportation[/tags]