A growing bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers is calling on the Trump administration to reconsider a federal regulation set to take effect next month, warning it could cut off Americans’ access to prescription medications from licensed international pharmacies.
The pending rule would require all medicines mailed from abroad to clear customs through a licensed broker and secure a financial guarantee known as an entry bond. The requirement imposes new costs and administrative hurdles for patients who have long relied on pharmacies in Canada and other countries to obtain affordable prescriptions.
Demand for cross-border drug purchases surged two decades ago as U.S. prices climbed, leading some Americans to organize bus trips to Canadian pharmacies. Under existing law, importing medication for personal use remains illegal in most circumstances because the drugs typically lack Food and Drug Administration approval certifying their safety and efficacy.