> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Florida Canadian Drug Importation Plan
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/florida-canadian-drug-importation-plan/
- Published: 2019-09-25T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T01:52:10.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5145096

Florida has submitted a “Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Concept Paper” to HHS in hopes of satisfying federal requirements to import prescription drugs from Canada. The plan was authorized in legislation signed by the state’s governor 6/12/19\. Implementation requires an HHS determination that the importation will pose no additional risk to the public health and will result in a significant reduction in the cost of covered drugs to the consumer. To date, HHS has not made such a determination for any proposal.

Attorney **Serra Schlanger** (Hyman, Phelps & McNamara) [writes](http://www.fdalawblog.net/2019/09/florida-proposes-plan-to-import-drugs-from-canada/?ref=fdaweb.com) in her firm’s *FDA Law Blog* that the Florida concept paper describes how its program will meet the federal requirements. She says the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration would use a still-to-be-identified vendor to identify and maintain a list of Canadian suppliers who have agreed to export drugs under the program. The vendor also would be responsible for developing a list of prescription drugs that have the highest potential for cost savings.

The paper includes a list of 13 potential suppliers, Schlanger writes, although it appears that none have yet expressed interest in participating. It also includes a list of 19 drugs that could qualify for importation, with 10 of them being HIV medications.

Canadian exporters would be required to register with FDA and appoint a U.S. agent. Imported drugs would be sampled and tested by a qualified laboratory. The drugs would be repackaged and relabeled before importation to meet U.S. labeling requirements. The vendor would be expected to maintain an electronic system to collect transaction information and information from the Canadian suppliers about a drug’s original source.

Florida projects its program will save over $150 million a year, Schlanger writes. Certain costs are expected to be borne by the program’s commercial participants (the FDA-approved drug manufacturer or distributor, the Canadian supplier, and/or the vendor overseeing the program).