FDA takes lead against illegal pharmacies

President Clinton's December 28 legislative initiative to protect consumers from the illegal sale of pharmaceuticals over the Internet will rely on the FDA to carry out its provisions. Under the proposal, to be included in this year's budget, there would be a new federal requirement that Internet

pharmacies demonstrate to the FDA their compliance with federal and state laws on pharmaceutical sales before being allowed to operate. The administration said the system would allow rapid, coordinated federal-state investigations and prosecutions without disturbing state systems regulating the practice of medicine and pharmacy. New civil money penalties of $500,000 per violation for the sale of prescription drugs to an individual without a valid prescription would be enacted, and the FDA would be given new authority to ensure rapid and effective investigation of online pharmacy sites.