Democrats Get Tough on ... Drug Importation?

According to Congressional Quarterly, Chairman Dingell is aggressively pursuing efforts to require the FDA to take a much more aggressive role in monitoring food and drug production and safety abroad, with stiff penalties for companies that import tainted products. The article says: “Dingell’s plan would also crack down on companies that violate drug import regulations. Manufacturers and importers could be fined as much as $500,000 for bringing contaminated or adulterated food or drugs into the country, and individuals could be subject to fines as high as $100,000 for similar offenses.”

You may ask, How is that statement compatible with legislators’ calls for liberalized prescription drug importation? Good question.

Hopefully Mr. Dingell will point this out when his colleagues raise the subject.