Hi All,

Canada - Reuters 
 
 
Illinois Blasts FDA on Canada Drugs Terror Warning


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The governor of Illinois accused regulators on
Thursday of using scare tactics by warning that imported prescription drugs
could be a target of terrorists who want to tamper with the pharmaceutical
supply. 

Acting Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) Commissioner Lester
Crawford said on Wednesday his top concern about the growing interest by
states and cities in drug imports from Canada was that terrorists would
contaminate the medicines. Crawford made the comments in an interview with
the Associated Press. He did not cite any specific threats. 

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Crawford's warning about "alleged
dangers" of medicines from Canada "shows once again that the
agency is more interested in scare tactics than in helping struggling
Americans safely obtain prescription drugs at a price they can
afford." 

Blagojevich, a Democrat, favors allowing Americans to import cheaper
medicines from Canada. Illinois inspectors found "there are
significantly fewer opportunities for tampering and counterfeiting (in
Canada) than there are here in the United States," he said. 

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, who plans to sue the FDA (news - web sites) over
its opposition to drug importation, also was critical. 

He said he was concerned about terrorism and that precautions should be
taken. "But, you know, we can't let the terrorists paralyze America.
We can't change all of our decisions and take steps strictly in response to
terrorist threats," he said in an interview on CNN television. 

Douglas, a Republican, said he thought there were ways "to provide
some reasonable assurance" that imported medicines were safe. 

FDA officials have been warning for years that importing medicines from
Canada and other countries is risky because there is no guarantee they are
safe and effective. The practice is illegal but many states and cities are
pursuing it anyway, and Congress is considering easing restrictions. 

FDA officials also have raised concerns periodically that terrorists could
target imported medicines. 

"The prospect of any and all of the products we regulate being a
vehicle for terrorism is a constant concern," Crawford said last week
during a speech at the National Press Club. 


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=841&e=9&u=/nm/20040813/wl_canada_nm/canada_health_imports_col


From the desk of...


   Michael


--- Devil's Point System 6.66