New Mississippi Law Addresses Wholesale Distributor Licensing Requirements, Favors Wholesaler Accreditation Such as VAWD

April 7, 2006 12:00 AM

On April 5, 2006, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour signed into law House Bill No. 542, which, among other provisions impacting the practice of pharmacy in the state, authorizes the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy to implement stricter permit requirements for both in-state and out-of-state prescription drug wholesale distributors, chain pharmacy warehouses, and repackagers. The legislation also authorizes the Mississippi Board to use an outside agency, including the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®)'s Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors^™ (VAWD^™ ) program, to accredit wholesale distributors and repackagers.

The VAWD program provides assurance that the wholesale distribution facility operates legitimately, is validly licensed in good standing, and is employing security and best practices for safely distributing prescription drugs from manufacturers to pharmacies and other institutions in order to safeguard the public health against the growing threat of prescription drug counterfeiting. Applicants for VAWD accreditation undergo a criteria compliance review, licensure verification, an inspection, background checks, and screening through NABP's Clearinghouse.

Mississippi joins Indiana and Oklahoma as states that have passed legislation authorizing the state board of pharmacy to use an outside agency, such as NABP's VAWD program, to accredit wholesale distributors; in 2005 Indiana passed a law requiring wholesale distributors to obtain VAWD accreditation. In addition, despite the absence of legislative changes to Idaho's wholesale distributor statutes, the Idaho Board of Pharmacy requires inspections of in-state and out-of-state wholesale distribution facilities and allows wholesale drug distributors from states that do not perform routine inspections to obtain VAWD accreditation as a means of meeting the requirement.

In addition to the states with legislation that mentions the VAWD program, many other states are working on legislation and regulations that would enact safeguards for the wholesale distribution component of the pharmaceutical drug supply chain, including stricter licensing requirements, bonding, and pedigrees.

For more information about the VAWD program or to download an application, visit NABP's Web site at www.nabp.net.

Larissa Doucette