Gov't to stop seizing drugs from Canada
ORLANDO, Fla. - The federal government will stop seizing small amounts of lower-priced prescription medications mailed from Canada, officials said.
Since November 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have seized prescription drugs that 40,000 Americans had ordered from Canada, Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record) noted on Tuesday. The new policy, which takes effect Oct. 9, was announced in an e-mail from the Department of Homeland Security to congressional staff Monday, Nelson said.
Customs spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger confirmed the policy change Tuesday, saying the agency would no longer intercept the drugs or issue letters to postal carriers indicating it is illegal to import prescription medications. She said the policy change was due to political pressure from lawmakers and people who complained they were no longer receiving their medicine.
Nelson said that the new policy will allow Americans to import small amounts of prescription drugs — roughly a 90-day supply.
"It's a great victory, particularly for the senior citizens who are having difficulty making financial ends meet in a time in which, sadly, some senior citizens have to make a decision between buying their prescription drugs and buying their groceries," Nelson said.
Since November 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have seized prescription drugs that 40,000 Americans had ordered from Canada, Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record) noted on Tuesday. The new policy, which takes effect Oct. 9, was announced in an e-mail from the Department of Homeland Security to congressional staff Monday, Nelson said.
Customs spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger confirmed the policy change Tuesday, saying the agency would no longer intercept the drugs or issue letters to postal carriers indicating it is illegal to import prescription medications. She said the policy change was due to political pressure from lawmakers and people who complained they were no longer receiving their medicine.
Nelson said that the new policy will allow Americans to import small amounts of prescription drugs — roughly a 90-day supply.
"It's a great victory, particularly for the senior citizens who are having difficulty making financial ends meet in a time in which, sadly, some senior citizens have to make a decision between buying their prescription drugs and buying their groceries," Nelson said.
posted by The Prophecy Club at
10/04/2006 02:46:00 PM
