GPhA Applauds Senate Passage of Supply Chain Safety Legislation

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, (November 18, 2013) — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) commends today’s Senate vote to pass the Drug Quality and Security Act (HR 3204), legislation that makes it easier to monitor drugs throughout the supply chain.

“Establishing a predictable, reliable national standard for electronic prescription medicine tracking further safeguards our nation’s prescription drug supply and protects patients,” said Ralph G. Neas, President and CEO of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. “This bipartisan bill is the culmination of years of hard work from Congress and stakeholders at every level of the supply chain. Modernizing the nation’s prescription drug tracking system enhances the ability of regulators to limit risks posed by counterfeit or adulterated products and reassures patients that the generic medicines they receive are secure from the manufacturer all the way to the pharmacy.”

The Drug Quality and Security Act replaces a patchwork of state laws with a uniform, consistent national standard for keeping accurate records of prescription medication. The bill requires manufacturers to put serial numbers on all medication containers within the next four years. In the next decade, electronic tracking codes are expected to monitor medication at the package level from manufacturer through to the pharmacy.

In particular, GPhA applauds Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Senate HELP Ranking Member Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), as well as House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) for the years of hard work that culminated in the bipartisan passage of this legislation.

GPhA looks forward to the Drug Quality and Security Act reaching the desk of the President where it is expected to be signed into law. GPhA also supports electronic labeling provisions that remain under discussion and encourages continued efforts to finalize the proposed rule on e-labeling.