In October 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Final Rule (which we summarized here) that implemented Section 804 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 384, to allow states and …
In October, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Final Rule that permits the importation of prescription drug products from Canada (the “Final Rule”). The Final Rule became effective on November 30, but the potential …
On September 24, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Final Rule and an FDA Guidance for the importation of certain prescription drugs. (See our coverage of the proposed rule and draft guidance here.) …
On December 18, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and a Draft Guidance for the importation of certain prescription drugs. The NPRM and Draft Guidance provide further details …
On August 13, 2019, FDA announced that it has issued the first Warning Letter (WL) for a violation of the requirements for a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP). This is a good reminder for importers that they must have a FSVP for each food for …
As we have previously reported (see here, here, and here) four states (Vermont, Colorado, Florida, and Maine) have passed laws to establish drug importation programs. Reversing long-standing policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 that HHS …
As we previously reported, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed a new law in May 2018 allowing for the wholesale importation of prescription drugs from Canada into Vermont. Vermont’s Agency of Human Services (VAHS) recently issued a report containing the Agency’s preliminary design for a “Canadian …
While likely not FDA’s intent, the net effect of FDA’s requirements surrounding importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients is driving manufacturing of investigational finished drug products outside the United States. In its most egregious implementation, FDA’s current interpretation sets up a Catch-22 in which a batch …
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision a couple of weeks ago reversing the conspiracy conviction of a defendant for distribution of unapproved drugs, among other things. The trial court had rejected evidence relating to an advice-of-counsel defense asserted by the …
Last week, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (“TDCJ”) filed an Amended Complaint in a case initially filed against FDA in January 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. TDCJ initially challenged FDA’s delay in determining the admissibility, into domestic …
By Dara K. Levy – The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), which went into effect for FDA-regulated products on June 15, 2016 (after several delays), is an electronic system operated by Customs and intended to automate import processing and expedite reviews for electronic import filings. It replaces …
By Kurt R. Karst – In a 19-page decision handed down earlier this week by Judge Nancy Torresen of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, the court ruled that Maine’s 2013 law, titled “An Act To Facilitate the Personal Importation of Prescription Drugs …
By Allyson B. Mullen – On November 3, 2014, the law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP filed suit on behalf of Plymouth Direct, Inc. (Plymouth) and Natures Pillows, Inc. (NPI) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against FDA claiming …
By Kurt R. Karst – FDA’s Pre-Launch Activities Importation Request (“PLAIR”) program got a lot of attention last July when the Agency finally announced the issuance of a draft guidance document (Docket No. FDA-2013-D-0836) describing the program. Briefly, the PLAIR program allows, on a case-by-case basis and …
By Kurt R. Karst – On May 29th, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations voted 31-18 during a mark-up session to send to the House floor its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, along …
