Expanding Fight Against Counterfeit Drugs and Illicit Trafficking.
This Act expands the scope of existing sanctions legislation from focusing solely on fentanyl and opioids to include all illicit drugs, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and "copy-cat ingredients." The goal is to enhance public health and safety by targeting foreign traffickers who introduce dangerous, substandard imitation substances into the market. It also streamlines intelligence operations related to drug trafficking.
Key points
The government's power to impose sanctions now targets foreign traffickers of all illicit drugs, counterfeit drugs, and imitation ingredients, moving beyond the previous focus on opioids.
New definitions are introduced to specifically combat "copy-cat ingredients"—substances mimicking approved prescription drugs but failing quality standards—aiming to protect consumers from dangerous fakes.
Waivers allowing access to prescription medications despite sanctions are now strictly limited to drugs officially listed as being in short supply by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Introduced
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