Author: Doug Berger

Now the FDA doesn’t want us to buy Canadian drugs because the FDA was briefed of terrorist plans to attack the domestic food and drug supply.

FDA fears drugs a terror target
Acting commissioner says imported drugs biggest concern

Thursday, August 12, 2004 Posted: 10:29 AM EDT (1429 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) — “Cues from chatter” gathered around the world are raising concerns that terrorists might try to attack the domestic food and drug supply, particularly illegally imported prescription drugs, acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester M. Crawford says.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Crawford said Wednesday that he had been briefed about al-Qaeda plans uncovered during recent arrests and raids, but declined further comment about any possible threats.

“While we must assume that such a threat exists generally, we have no specific information now about any al-Qaeda threats to our food or drug supply,” said Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/08/12/fda.terror.ap/index.html

[Note how the Homeland Security spokesperson contradicts the FDA commissioner but the CNN report plays up the “danger” as if it is specific.]

Of course this comes on the heels of the FDA starting their “Don’t buy Canadian drugs because they are unsafe” public service campaign here in Ohio.

FDA warns Ohioans not to cross border for prescriptions
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Anna Michael
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A federally funded campaign urging Americans to buy their prescription drugs strictly from pharmacies in the United States has been extended to Ohio.

The “Looks Can Be Deceiving” campaign warns consumers of potential safety problems with prescription drugs sold in Canada and other countries.

Driven by the high cost of prescription drugs in the United States, thousands of Americans go online or to Canada to purchase medicine.

In central Ohio, there are stores that fax prescriptions to pharmacies in Canada, which then ship drugs to the United States.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration campaign, which has been presented in 14 other states, was presented yesterday in Columbus.

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/08/12/20040812-A1-03.html

Now such threats to drugs might be a real concern if Canada was a 3rd world back water. The fact is that Canada is a real country with similar standards for the sale of medications. They are also working hard to keep their country safe from terrorist incidents and that helps protect the US.

All of the major brands of medications sold here in the US are also sold in Canada and at least one major manufacture has their research and development lab in Ontario.

The FDA’s actions would be like the Federal Trade Commission warning people not to import Japanese steel because it can’t vouch for the strength of it. That would be a shock to the Japanese who have been the steel innovators for the past 30 years.

The FDA’s war on imported drugs is nothing more than a smoke screen to protect their friends in the medication industry.

I really hope most people see through the screen.