Brief Description: Authorizing the state board of pharmacy to regulate nonresident Canadian pharmacies.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Appleton, O'Brien, Cody, Campbell, Moeller, P. Sullivan, Chase, Flannigan, McCoy, Sells, Simpson, Darneille, Hasegawa, McIntire, Murray, McDermott, Morrell, Green, Schual-Berke, Kagi, Kessler, Dickerson, Kenney, Hankins, Conway, Lantz, Ormsby, Wallace and Upthegrove).

House Committee on Health Care
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

The Department of Health (Department) currently licenses pharmacies located in Washington state, and out-of-state pharmacies that provide services to Washington residents. The Department maintains reciprocal licensing agreements with other state's pharmacy licensing authorities. The Department does not license pharmacies located in foreign countries.

Summary:

The Board of Pharmacy will submit a waiver request to the food and drug administration authorizing it to license Canadian pharmacies. The Department will license any Canadian pharmacy that ships, mails, or delivers prescription drugs to Washington residents. If the Department is unable to develop a reciprocal licensing agreement with Health Canada or a Canadian province, it will license participating Canadian pharmacies through on-site inspection and certification.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   54   41
Senate   33   14   (Senate amended)
House   60   35   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005