Government
Drug importation change added to law
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 12, 2005
President Bush recently approved legislation that includes language aimed at preventing further U.S. restrictions on prescription drug importation, but the White House said that the provision is not binding.
Bush signed into law the spending bill to fund the Commerce, Justice and State departments for fiscal year 2006 after lawmakers inserted the section dealing with drug importation. The provision states that the U.S. trade representative's office cannot design trade agreements during the year that prohibit such importation from taking place.
The White House released a statement, however, noting that that section of the bill deals with an executive power and can thus serve in only an advisory function to the president.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/12/gvbf1212.htm.
