What evidence is there that drugs imported from outside the U.S. are not safe?
During a recent FDA enforcement effort, 85 percent of the medications purchased from Canadian pharmacies were actually shipped from countries other than Canada. Similarly, CBP has interdicted significant quantities of prescription drugs, which are exported from countries other than Canada. For more information visit the FDA website. Of particular concern, CBP, in cooperation with FDA, recently intercepted products at the border that purported to be “generic” Tamiflu but which, in fact, contained Vitamin C and other ineffective substances. Although the drugs were similar in appearance to genuine Tamiflu, they offer no therapeutic benefit. The FDA has warned that medicines purchased outside the United States may be unsafe or ineffective for the following reasons: • Medicines that have not been approved for sale in the United States may not have been manufactured under quality assurance procedures designed to produce a safe and effective product. • Some imported medicines, even those that
