The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 265 No 7106 p123
July 22, 2000 Business

US internet pharmacies to be regulated by states

Internet pharmacies in the United States of America will be regulated by individual states in the same way as existing pharmacies if a Bill currently before Congress is passed. The Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act [HR 2763] would require state legislatures to have requirements for internet pharmacy sites which were no less stringent than for purchases made from pharmacies within the states. Enforcement of such provisions would be the responsibility of the states rather than the federal government. Internet pharmacy sites would have to carry pages or links to the identities of the seller and the persons serving as pharmacists or medical consultants. The states in which such persons were licensed to practise would have to be given.

US internet pharmacies would have to list where professional staff were licensed to practise

The Bill is currently being considered by the House of Representatives subcommittee on health and environment. President Bill Clinton made provision within the 2001 federal budget for $10m to fund activities against unauthorised, "fly-by-night" internet pharmacies.
The Bill is being opposed by the recently formed Online Pharmaceutical Providers Association (OPPA). The organisation says that its first priority is to set and enforce standardisation of forms and processes related to sound business and clinical practices by its members. The OPPA also wants to see quality assurance of online pharmacies through a neutral agent.
The OPPA says on its website (www.onlineppa.org) that regulation of the online pharmaceuticals market is being driven by a desire to control its revenue potential rather than on patient safety grounds.