PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 1, 2025
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025
This bill expands the categories of prescription drugs that may be imported into the United States and the countries from which such drugs may be imported.
Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize importation of certain eligible prescription drugs from Canada if HHS certifies that doing so would pose no additional risk to public health and safety, among other requirements. HHS long declined to make the requisite certification, citing safety concerns (e.g., contamination, counterfeiting), but ultimately made the certification in 2020 and has since approved one state plan to import drugs.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill removes the certification requirement and requires HHS to issue regulations that permit importation of qualifying prescription drugs from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and member states of the European Union, in addition to Canada. After one year, if HHS determines that importation of drugs from these countries has been conducted safely, HHS may authorize importation from other countries that meet certain requirements.
The bill also expands the types of prescription drugs eligible for importation to include, for example, biologics such as insulin.
Further, the bill allows individuals to use an eligible licensed foreign pharmacy to fill a U.S.-issued prescription for a qualifying drug for personal use. Currently, an individual seeking to import a prescription drug generally must acquire a waiver from HHS.
Finally, the bill imposes criminal penalties for websites that sell counterfeit drugs or dispense drugs without a required prescription.
People & committees
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · D–IL
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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