U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer magazine
September-October 2002
Table
of Contents
Recent ads in newspapers and magazines claim that it's now legal to import drugs into the United States for personal use. In fact, some ads on the Internet and elsewhere claim that people can legally bring up to a 90-day supply of their prescription medications bought outside the United States home with them.
Neither of these claims is true.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, unapproved, misbranded, and adulterated drugs are prohibited from importation into the United States. In general, all drugs imported by individuals fall into one of these prohibited categories. This includes drugs that are foreign versions of FDA-approved medications and drugs dispensed without a prescription.
"Opening our borders to re-imported drugs potentially could increase the flow of counterfeit drugs, cheap foreign copies of FDA-approved drugs, expired and contaminated drugs, and drugs stored under inappropriate and unsafe conditions ... that's a risk we simply cannot take," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson recently told a biotechnology summit in Canada.
Our cover story, "Imported Drugs Raise Safety Concerns," examines the dangers associated with some imported drugs and the FDA's efforts to warn U.S. citizens about the risks surrounding such medications.
Today's supermarket shelves are stocked with foods as diverse as the people who roam the aisles. And, while advances in food packaging have helped extend shelf life, food quality remains a concern. Our feature article "Food Freshness and 'Smart' Packaging" takes a look at how scientists at the FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research are developing "smart packaging" that someday will help consumers determine when good food goes bad.
Ever wonder what an ostrich takes for a sore throat? Ostriches, along with sheep, goats, game birds, zoo animals, finfish, and species other than cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats, are among animals considered to be "minor species" by the FDA. Check out our feature article to learn about the challenges facing those who treat minor species.
Do you think that only women need to be concerned about the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis? Think again. Our article will give you the latest research findings on this condition that increases the risk for bone fractures among older people.
Ray Formanek Jr.
Editor