"The Administration's objective is laudable, and we intend to work with the Administration, the FDA and the Congress in developing an appropriate approach to protecting consumers from illegal or rogue pharmacy operators on the Internet," Craig L. Fuller, NACDS President & CEO said. "As part of that process, the existing oversight structure which has proven effective should be thoroughly evaluated and enhanced if needed."

The existing oversight structure includes:

Individual state boards of pharmacy and the voluntary national VIPPs program

Individual state boards of medicine which regulate medical practice by physicians and grant physicians prescribing privileges

FDA's authority to prohibit offshore sources for prescriptions drugs and to limit manufacturers' prescription drug sales to illegitimate sites.

"We believe that voluntary approaches, coupled with more aggressive enforcement of the regulatory mechanisms already in place and currently available to the FDA, individual state boards of pharmacy and state boards of medicine, if more fully utilized, are adequate to protect consumers without the expansion of the FDA's authority over the legitimate practice of pharmacy," Fuller said.

"An informed consumer who can identify rogue pharmacy operators can be effective in eliminating illegal operators by not using their services," Fuller said. "Just as the UL symbol for Underwriter Laboratories and the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval have become key tools for consumers to determine the safety and quality of particular products, a similar approach is already in place."

The practice of pharmacy is regulated by the states in which a pharmacy company operates. With the growth of Internet commerce, many traditional brick and mortar chain and independent pharmacies are offering Internet services.

In an effort to verify that Internet pharmacy operators are conforming with state practice regulations and license requirements, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced a voluntary certification program for online pharmacies. Called VIPPs -- Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site -- the NABP issues the equivalent of a "Good House Keeping Seal of Approval" with its VIPPs insignia so that consumers can identify legitimate online providers.

Many chain pharmacy providers have applied for VIPPs certification and several have already received VIPPs certification.

Most legitimate pharmacy operators believe provisions in current state and federal laws are adequate to protect consumers from unsafe Internet practices.

Fuller made his comments during a national press conference today in Washington on the health care system's preparedness for the Y2K Transition. Also participating in the press conference were HHS Secretary Donna Shalala and FDA Commissioner Jane Henney, MD.