ONLINE Rx: Bliley Questions FDA Involvement in Rx Sales
House Commerce Chair Tom Bliley (R-Va.) sent President Clinton a letter criticizing the administration's proposal to expand FDA authority to include online prescription drug sales prior to receiving a report from an administration-appointed Internet working group, CongressDaily/A.M. reports. The working group was charged with reviewing administration Internet policy, including self-regulation and "technology-neutral laws and regulations." In his letter dated Jan. 24, Bliley writes that he supported the creation of the group, but feels the administration might have violated the group's policy principles by proposing to expand the FDA's scope. Bliley also criticized the administration for failing to include states in the decision, as they have "primary enforcement authority over pharmacies, including Internet-based pharmacies." Bliley asked Clinton to send him materials the administration used to develop the FDA proposal. He wrote, "I also believe that, in order to ensure full and fair consideration of your legislative proposals, it is imperative that you release to this Committee and to the American public all draft reports or recommendations of the Working Group regarding prescription drug sales, as well as the final product of that task force once it is completed" (2/4).
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