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2007 SESSION

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072405500
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 699 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 Directing the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the accuracy of discard dates on prescription drugs. Report. ----------
Patrons-- Scott, J.M., Albo, Caputo, Ebbin, Marsden, Plum, Rust, Sickles and Watts; Senators: Devolites Davis, Herring and Ticer
---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, since 1979 the federal Food and Drug Administration has allowed pharmaceutical companies to define their own expiration date for each drug marketed in the United States; and

WHEREAS, discard dates may represent only the date to which the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug and may not correspond with time frames during which the drug actually remains effective; and

WHEREAS, in 1986 the Food and Drug Administration Shelf Life Extension Program found that over 90% of more than 100 prescription and over-the-counter drugs tested were safe and effective up to 15 years past their expiration dates; and

WHEREAS, billions of dollars may be wasted annually on discarded drugs that are potentially still potent and safe beyond their labeled expiration date; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Commission on Health Care be directed to study the accuracy of discard dates on prescription drugs.

In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care shall (i) evaluate the accuracy of discard dates for prescription drugs, (ii) evaluate the feasibility of extending such discard dates, and (iii) if such extension is feasible, recommend a process for identifying the period of such extensions.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Commission on Health Care for this study, upon request.

The Joint Commission on Health Care shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2007, and for the second year by November 30, 2008, and the executive director shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Joint Commission on Health Care intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.