ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores hailed the Senate’s approval of a bipartisan bill that would provide more safeguards from counterfeit medications.
NACDS said Friday that the Senate passed the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act (S. 1886), which aims to stiffen penalties on criminals purveying counterfeit medications.
The legislation is sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.), Charles Grassley (R., Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D., Colo).
"We applaud the Senate for their passage of this important legislation and thank Sens. Leahy, Grassley and Bennet for their leadership in advocating stricter sentences for criminals who put consumers in harm’s way by trafficking counterfeit medications," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. "We urge the House to move swiftly in passing this legislation that puts consumer health safety ahead of criminal activities."
Endorsed in December by NACDS, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act would impose stronger penalties on those who make, buy or sell counterfeit drugs. Under current federal law, there is no distinction between counterfeit medications and other counterfeit products, the association noted.
NACDS added that it has also supported efforts to protect consumers from counterfeit and diverted drugs. The association said it supports the Safe Doses Act (S.1002), introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.). The legislation would give law enforcement key tools to break up crime rings that try to resell stolen medical products.
