Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025
Congress Proposes Plan to Lower Drug Costs by Allowing Imports from Canada and Europe
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would allow Americans to legally buy prescription drugs from certain countries where prices are often much lower. Currently, while many people already do this, it is technically illegal in most cases. The new rules would create a safe, legal way for pharmacies and individuals to get medicine from trusted foreign sources.
- Individuals would be allowed to order up to a 90-day supply of medicine for their own use. To do this, you would need a valid prescription from a U.S. doctor and would have to buy from a 'certified foreign seller.' These sellers must be licensed pharmacies in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, or members of the European Union.
- The plan includes strict safety checks to protect patients. Foreign sellers would have to register with the government, pay a fee for oversight, and follow quality standards. The government would also have the power to test random drug samples and shut down any sellers that provide counterfeit or unsafe products.
- Drug companies would be prohibited from trying to block these imports. They could not charge foreign pharmacies higher prices just because they sell to Americans, nor could they intentionally change a drug's formula in other countries just to stop it from being imported back into the United States.
- The bill covers many common medicines, including insulin and certain biological products. However, it specifically excludes highly controlled substances like opioids, drugs used for anesthesia during surgery, and 'compounded' drugs that are mixed by a pharmacist rather than a manufacturer.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small business owners who provide health insurance to their employees often struggle with rising prescription drug costs that drive up premiums. If drug importation creates meaningful price competition, it could help lower the cost of employer-sponsored health plans. Small businesses that self-insure would see the most direct benefit from cheaper drug purchasing options.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesHouse bill would let patients buy drugs from non-U.S. pharmacies
Rep. Janice Schakowsky introduced the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act, which would allow Americans to buy drugs from certified pharmacies in Canada, the UK, and the EU. The bill covers insulin and injectable drugs but excludes controlled substances.
Democrats' drug price bill echoes Trump's executive order: What now?
The article discusses Rep. Schakowsky's importation bill in the context of a new Executive Order and other legislative efforts like Rep. Ro Khanna's 'Global Fairness in Drug Pricing Act,' highlighting the bipartisan interest in lowering costs through international competition.
2025 Year In Review: From The GLP-1 Boom To The One Big Beautiful Bill Act
A year-end summary highlighting the introduction of the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act in May 2025 as a key development in the effort to control rising pharmacy costs and pressure domestic drug pricing.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(5)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.