> ## 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 Drug Import Plan ‘Non-Starter’: Canada
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/florida-drug-import-plan-non-starter-canada/
- Published: 2024-01-11T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T14:20:13.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5156129

Canadian federal health minister **Mark Holland** says the plan recently [approved](https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-approves-florida-drug-importation/) by FDA permitting Florida to import some drugs from Canada is a non-starter that will face Canadian government action to prevent any drug shortages for Canadians. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) [says](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-health-minister-florida-pillage-drugs-1.7079641?ref=fdaweb.com) Holland said, “There is no way we will allow any jurisdiction, be it a state or another foreign jurisdiction, to endanger the Canadian drug supply. That is not an appropriate solution to whatever challenges they may be facing.” He spoke to the issue during an official announcement in Nova Scotia of a bilateral healthcare deal with that province. “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that another country cannot be given the ability to pillage our health system for its own benefit,” Holland declared.

He said he would soon travel to Washington, DC, to deliver the message to U.S. officials that Canada will not remain idle if Florida or other states pursue imports that threaten Canadians’ access to medication in any way. He said it’s “inappropriate” for U.S. politicians to look to Canada to help fix their costly healthcare system.

CBC reports that Florida has said it initially wants to import drugs to treat HIV, mental illness, and prostate cancer.

According to Holland, Canada’s pharmaceutical industry makes some drugs for sale overseas, and those exports will continue. But, he said, Canada has drug supply issues of its own.

CBC says a national database suggests dozens of medications are in short supply in the country, including Valium (diazepam) and opioids like hydromorphone.

“Understandably, the U.S. has its challenges with its drug supply and its costs,” Holland said. “We will not allow the U.S. at all to use Canada as a means of fixing that problem. We will do everything in our power to ensure shortages do not occur.”

Meanwhile, British Columbia (BC) health minister **Adrian Dix** told a CBC show that what Florida and other U.S. states want to do is “effectively a raid on Canada’s drug supply.” Allowing one of the most populous U.S. states access to an already limited Canadian drug supply would “clearly cause a drug shortage,” Dix said.

BC has introduced a regulation to halt online and mail-order sales of Ozempic (semaglutide) to people who do not live in Canada or are not in BC to purchase in person, CBC reports. Dix said the Ozempic diversion case is just one example, saying that Florida’s plan could result in a vast quantity of drugs being sent to the U.S. if the Canadian federal government doesn’t move aggressively to curb exports.