> ## 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’s FDA-Authorized Canadian Drug Import Program Stalls
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/floridas-fda-authorized-canadian-drug-import-program-stalls/
- Published: 2026-02-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T15:32:15.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5160586

Florida remains the only state authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to import prescription drugs from Canada, but the long-promised program has yet to deliver any imported medicines more than two years after receiving final agency FDA approval. The state’s Section 804 drug importation initiative, championed by Gov. **Ron DeSantis** as a way to lower prescription drug costs, has stalled amid resistance from Canadian drug manufacturers and regulators, ongoing logistical challenges, and mounting scrutiny over more than $82 million in state spending with no drugs imported to date, according to a *Politico* [report](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/02/desantis-florida-canada-drug-imports-00759891?ref=fdaweb.com).

FDA granted Florida final authorization for its Canadian drug importation plan in 2023, after the state pledged it would begin importing eligible prescription drugs within months. Instead, the program has failed to launch, prompting the agency to send a letter to state officials in June that gave the state until November to demonstrate progress, *Politico* reports.

Despite the lack of results, Florida’s authorization remains in place through May, according to state officials. A meeting between FDA and Florida regulators originally scheduled for November was postponed due to last year’s federal government shutdown and is now set for March.

A central obstacle, according to *Politico*, has been the lack of cooperation from Canada’s pharmaceutical industry and government, which have repeatedly warned that U.S. importation programs could strain Canada’s drug supply. Canadian authorities have also implemented regulatory measures aimed at limiting exports that could contribute to domestic shortages. Health policy experts say that resistance has undermined Florida’s efforts from the outset.

At least eight states have explored Section 804 importation plans since the Trump administration revived the pathway in 2020, but Florida is the only one to receive FDA authorization — and has spent the most while making the least progress, critics say. Colorado, another state pursuing importation, has reported difficulty identifying Canadian suppliers willing to participate and has not set a launch date, according to *Politico*.

The DeSantis administration maintains that the program is ongoing. A spokesperson says the state’s vendor continues negotiations with Canadian manufacturers and distributors, though no agreements have been announced.