Secretary Becerra Takes an Important Step Toward Securing U.S. Supply Chain and Protecting Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 8, 2021 – Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the department will revoke the previous administration’s call for proposals to create pathways for personal prescription drug and insulin importation from other countries. In response, Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) issued the following statement:

ASOP Global applauds Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra for taking much-needed action to protect American patients and keep the U.S. drug supply chain secure by rescinding the prior administration’s politically driven request for proposals for individual importation of prescription drugs and “reimportation” by drug manufacturers of insulin. Today’s Federal Register notice states the department has received no proposals in response to these Trump administration solicitations, underscoring there is no acceptable and safe pathway for prescription drug importation.

Drug importation schemes aren’t safe, don’t save money, and won’t work. These policies send patients the wrong signal, implying that foreign pharmacies operating on the internet are safe and reliable when, in fact, many are fraudulent and unregulated. We are encouraged by today’s news and urge Secretary Becerra to take a similar approach to the Trump Administration’s misguided Importation of Prescription Drugs Final Rule, which is still on the books today and threatens patient safety.

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ABOUT ASOP GLOBAL

The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with activities in U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, is dedicated to protecting consumers around the world, ensuring safe access to medications, and combating illegal online drug sellers.