FINAL BILL REPORT
EHB 1415
Synopsis as Enacted
C 135 L 93
Brief Description: Modifying the imprinting law for over‑the‑counter medications in solid dosage form.
By Representative G. Cole.
House Committee on Health Care
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
Background: For poison control purposes, the Legislature enacted a requirement that prohibits the manufacture or distribution of solid dosage over-the-counter (nonprescription) medications without clearly identifying the medication and the manufacturer or distributor by name or symbols. No such drugs may be manufactured in or shipped into this state after January 1, 1993, without being identified.
The sale of over-the-counter medications in any container including vials, after January 1, 1994, is also prohibited without identifying the manufacturer. There is no requirement, however, that the distributor or packer be identified on these drugs. There is a question as to whether this requirement includes liquid dosages as well as solid dosages.
The Board of Pharmacy was required before January 1, 1993, to determine if the federal government has established a substantively equivalent system for imprinting and identifying drugs. State requirements would cease to exist upon the implementation of the federal requirements.
To date, no federal system for imprinting and identifying over-the-counter drugs has been implemented, and the requirements of state law are now technically in effect.
Summary: The implementation date for identifying over-the-counter medications manufactured and distributed in this state is deferred until January 1, 1994, and these medications may not be sold in this state after January 1, 1995.
The coverage of the law is clarified to include only over-the-counter medications in solid dosage forms.
The packer and distributor as well as the manufacturer are required to be identified on the over-the-counter medications sold in this state after January 1, 1995.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 98 0
Senate 45 0
Effective: April 30, 1993