SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO.16

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER LUCERO

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AP 16: PHARMACEUTICAL EXPIRATION DATES.

THE SHERMAN FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC LAW, CONTAINS VARIOUS PROVISIONS REGARDING THE PACKAGING, LABELING, AND ADVERTISING OF FOOD, DRUGS, DEVICES, AND COSMETICS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND DISPENSORS TO INCLUDE AN ACCURATE “BEST BEFORE” DATE ON THE PACKAGING OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 16: RELATING TO PHARMACEUTICAL EXPIRATION DATES

WHEREAS, SENIOR CITIZENS, ON AVERAGE, HAVE A GREATER NEED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION THAN MOST OTHER CITIZENS; AND

WHEREAS, WHILE OUT-DATED MEDICATION MAY CAUSE ILLNESS, MEDICATION THAT IS STILL GOOD, BUT IS THROWN AWAY BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT “BEST BEFORE” DATE, MAY PREVENT ILLNESS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY PRESCRIBED AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS ALREADY HAVE A “BEST BEFORE” DATE STAMPED ON THEIR OUTER PACKAGING AND, IN SOME CASES, ON THE CONTAINER THAT ACTUALLY CONTAINS THE DRUG; AND

WHEREAS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES NEED TO BRING THEIR PROCEDURES UP TO DATE TO STAMP ACCURATE “BEST BEFORE” DATES ON THEIR DRUG PRODUCT CONTAINERS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2006 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND DISPENSORS BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE AN ACCURATE “BEST BEFORE” DATE ON THE PACKAGING OF ALL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN20061897105

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