Two Opioid Import Bills Pass in House
The House of Representatives on June 13 passed the Stop Illicit Drug Importation Act, which adds to the Food and Drug Administration's authority to detain, refuse and destroy imported drugs. The legislation says the provisions would not apply if "an electronic import entry for such article is submitted using an authorized electronic data interchange system" and if "such article is designated in such system as a drug, device, dietary supplement, or other product" in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
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It's one of dozens of bills to address opioid abuse being considered by the House this week. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., highlighted the drive at his weekly press conference June 14. "What we're trying to do is get on top of this problem. This crept up on America very fast," he said. "We're basically learning as we go."
Many of the bills address treatment and changes to medical practices, but several address narcotics imports. On June 14, the House passed H.R. 5788, (see 1806110017), the STOP Act. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, testified for the bill, saying synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are sent from China to the U.S. in small quantities through the mail "because it is the easiest way to ensure that they go undetected by law enforcement. Why? Because right now, international mail shipments by the Postal Service are not subject to the same advance data requirements that private carriers have had to meet for decades ... . This data is desperately needed by Customs and Border Protection to fight the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S." After its passage, Trade Subcommittee ranking member Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., said, "This legislation will plug gaping loopholes exploited by drug traffickers.... This legislation has been carefully tailored to ensure that our USPS and Customs partners have adequate time and protections to bring this plan to fruition."
The STOP Act will require advance data from all international mail by 2020, and it will authorize CBP to help small countries develop the capability to submit advance data, he said.