Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act
Sen. Cornyn Introduces Bipartisan Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act to Track Drug Manufacturing Tools
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review. It is actively moving forward as it waits for the committee to discuss the proposal. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill requires anyone who makes, sells, imports, or exports pill-pressing machines and encapsulating machines to permanently affix a unique serial number to each device. This creates a tracking system so law enforcement can trace machines used to produce counterfeit or illegal pills.
From policy text
“Each regulated person who manufactures, distributes, delivers, sells, imports, or exports a tableting machine, an encapsulating machine, a critical part of a tableting machine, or a critical part of an encapsulating machine shall, when and as required by regulations of the Attorney General, identify the tableting machine, encapsulating machine, critical part of a tableting machine, or critical part of an encapsulating machine by means of a serial number that is engraved, cast, or otherwise permanently affixed to a nonremovable part”
View in full text - The serial number requirement also covers critical parts of these machines, specifically the upper punch, lower punch, and die (the mold that shapes a pill). This prevents criminals from simply swapping out key components to avoid detection.
- It would become a federal crime to remove, alter, or destroy any required serial number on these machines or parts. It would also be illegal to transport, sell, or possess a machine if you know the serial number has been tampered with.
From policy text
“to remove, alter, or obliterate any serial number affixed to a tableting machine, encapsulating machine, a critical part of a tableting machine, or a critical part of an encapsulating machine, that is required to have a serial number and with reasonable cause to believe the serial number is so required”
View in full text - All regulated transactions involving these machines or parts must be reported to the Attorney General, including the serial number. This gives the government a paper trail to follow when investigating illegal drug manufacturing operations.
From policy text
“any regulated transaction in a tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or critical part, including the serial number affixed to the tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or critical part.”
View in full text - The Attorney General has 180 days after the bill is enacted to write the detailed rules, including guidance for machines that already exist. The serial number requirements only kick in for machines made, sold, or imported after those rules take effect.
From policy text
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall promulgate regulations carrying out the amendments made by paragraph (1).”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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