Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Progress Report: Legislature Strengthens Pedigree Paper, Wholesaler Permit Requirements to Better Ensure Safe Prescription Drugs

Report 05-49, October 2005




Report Summary

  • Subsequent to our 2003 report, the Legislature amended state law to strengthen Florida's regulation of prescription drug wholesalers. The Legislature clarified state law to require drug wholesalers to provide pedigree papers for all drugs by 2006, provided the Department of Health additional authority to tighten the wholesaler permitting process, and increased criminal penalties for prescription drug violations related to counterfeiting and diversion.
  • Since that time, the Department of Health's Bureau of Statewide Pharmaceutical Services has worked to ensure wholesaler compliance with pedigree paper requirements, which is vital to ensuring the safety and integrity of Florida's wholesale prescription drug market. The bureau has implemented changes to the permitting process, thereby improving the bureau's ability to permit only legitimate wholesalers. To assess its efforts in ensuring wholesaler compliance with state law, the bureau is developing performance measures for its inspection process.


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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, counterfeit drugs, drug diversion, prescription drugs, pedigree papers, drug wholesalers, medicine