SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 8

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER LUCERO

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 8: PHARMACEUTICALS: LABELS

FEDERAL EXISTING LAW IMPOSES VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS ON PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES REGARDING LABELING, PACKAGING, AND ADVERTISING OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND DISPENSERS TO INCLUDE A “BEST BEFORE” DATE ON THE PACKAGING OF EVERY PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 8: RELATING TO PHARMACEUTICALS

WHEREAS, SENIOR CITIZENS, ON AVERAGE, HAVE A GREATER NEED FOR MEDICAL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS 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 EXPIRATION DATE MAY PREVENT OR ALLEVIATE ILLNESS; AND

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

WHEREAS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES NEED TO BRING THEIR PROCEDURES UP-TO-DATE BY CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYING A “BEST BEFORE” DATE ON THE CONTAINER OF EVERY DRUG; 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 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND DISPENSERS BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE A “BEST BEFORE” DATE ON THE PACKAGING OF EVERY PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT; 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.

RN 08 22058

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