Topic: Wyoming senator applauds bill to protect against counterfeit medical products
The United States House of Representatives unanimously passed bipartisan legislation that would help protect patients from counterfeit medical products. The House legislation is a companion to a bill Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H) introduced in July.
The Safeguarding Therapeutics Act would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to seize and destroy counterfeit medical devices and products, including COVID-19 tests and vaccines, as well as combination products like EpiPens.
“Counterfeit tests and medical products can be harmful to consumers – and it is especially important as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic to protect patients and have confidence in our health care system,” Enzi said. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this important, commonsense bill so we can help keep Americans safe from these fake products.”
“In the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, Granite Staters and Americans must be certain that medical supplies are safe and effective,” Hassan said. “I am glad that the House passed this commonsense, bipartisan bill to protect patients from counterfeit medical products, and I urge the Senate to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote.”
This House bill was introduced by Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-Ky) and Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.). It now awaits passage in the Senate.
This legislation builds on the 2012 Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, which gave the FDA the ability to seize and destroy counterfeit drugs, but not medical devices.
