June 3, 2013
Pedigree Solution Passes House of Representatives
HIDA applauds passage of the Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013 (H.R. 1919), which passed by voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives late this afternoon. Matthew J. Rowan, President and CEO of HIDA, issued the following statement shortly after the bill passed:
“Today's vote on the Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013 (H.R. 1919) ensures a secure supply chain for patients and providers. H.R. 1919 strengthens and greatly simplifies existing tracing or “pedigree” requirements by providing a national solution to the current patchwork of state laws and standards. The resulting ability to uniformly trace medical products and stop counterfeit drugs from entering the U.S. supply chain is essential, for patient safety and supply chain integrity.
“HIDA members have advocated tirelessly on this issue and educated members of Congress on the urgent need for federal legislation. On behalf of medical-surgical products distributors, HIDA applauds House passage of this important legislation and encourages Senate action on the bill.”
HIDA has compiled a section-by-section summary of H.R. 1919. Among the priorities HIDA worked to ensure were included in the legislation are:
- Interim provisions, also known as transitional requirements, to address the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) pedigree technical solution needed for medical-surgical distributors and secondary distributors.
- Strengthened licensure standards applied in an equitable manner.
- Uniform, national policy to achieve federal preemption.
While passage of H.R. 1919 is a major milestone in the industry’s efforts to pass a uniform, national pedigree solution, the U.S. Senate must also pass legislation. The Senate is poised to consider its version of the legislation, Drug Supply Chain Security Act (S. 957), as early as June or July 2013.
Please contact HIDA Government Affairs, hidagovaffairs@hida.org, if you have any questions, or (703) 549-4432.