FDA warns states about new prescription drug import laws News
FDA warns states about new prescription drug import laws

[JURIST] The US Food and Drug Administration [official website] has warned Texas Governor Rick Perry [official website] that a law he signed requiring the Texas State Board of Pharmacy [official website] to provide information about Canadian pharmacies may violate federal law [FDA letter to Perry]. The agency would inspect up to 10 Canadian pharmacies and allow consumers to decide which ones were safe options to purchase lower-cost drugs from. Nine other states operate similar websites [JURIST report], and the FDA has issued similar warnings [JURIST report] about all of them, including earlier this week to Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn [AP report]. The FDA prohibits importing drugs [official website] because it cannot guarantee their safety. A US industry coalition has also introduced a website lobbying against importing drugs. The Houston Chronicle has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.