Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025 (HR 3162) **What It Would Do:** This bill would allow Americans to legally import prescription drugs from more countries than currently permitted. Right now, the law only allows importing certain drugs from Canada. This bill would expand that to include the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and European Union countries. After a year of monitoring safety, the HHS Department could approve importation from additional countries that meet safety standards.
The bill also expands *which* drugs can be imported—including biologics like insulin, which are currently restricted. **Who It Affects:** Patients and consumers who purchase prescription medications would be the primary beneficiaries, potentially facing lower drug costs by accessing medications from countries with different pricing. Pharmaceutical companies could see reduced profits if cheaper imported drugs compete with domestically-produced medications. The bill affects HHS, which would need to create and enforce new regulations for drug importation and safety monitoring. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet moved to a full vote in the House. It remains under consideration and has not been enacted.
CRS Official Summary
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025This bill expands the categories of prescription drugs that may be imported into the United States and the countries from which such drugs may be imported.Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize the importation of certain eligible prescription drugs from Canada. The bill requires HHS to issue regulations that permit the importation of qualifying prescription drugs from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and member states of the European Union, in addition to Canada. After one year, if HHS determines that the importation of drugs from these countries has been conducted safely, HHS may authorize importation from other countries that meet certain requirements.The bill also expands the types of prescription drugs eligible for importation to include, for example, biologics such as insulin.Further, the bill allows individuals to use an eligible licensed foreign pharmacy to fill a U.S.-issued prescription for a qualifying drug for personal use. Currently, an individual seeking to import a prescription drug generally must acquire a waiver from HHS.The bill also imposes various requirements related to certification of foreign sellers, labeling of imported drugs, and supply chain security.Finally, the bill (1) prohibits certain acts that discriminate against foreign sellers, such as drug manufacturers charging higher prices to foreign sellers than to other sellers in the same country; and (2) imposes criminal penalties for websites that sell counterfeit drugs or dispense drugs without a required prescription.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.