PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 9, 2017
Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2017
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations within 180 days permitting individuals to import a prescription drug purchased from an approved Canadian pharmacy that:
is dispensed by a pharmacist licensed in Canada;
is purchased for personal use in quantities not greater than a 90-day supply;
is filled using a valid prescription issued by a physician licensed to practice in the United States; and
has the same active ingredients, route of administration, dosage form, and strength as a prescription drug approved under the FFDCA.
Certain medications may not be imported, including controlled substances and biological products.
The bill establishes a certification process for approving Canadian pharmacies. HHS must publish a list of approved Canadian pharmacies.
People & committees
Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R–AZ
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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