Oklahoma Passes Legislation Recognizing NABP's VAWD Program

June 22, 2005 12:00 am

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is pleased to announce that Governor C. Brad Henry recently signed into law Oklahoma Senate Bill (SB) 640 and House Bill (HB) 1347, which recognize the Association's new Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors™ (VAWD™) program as well as allow the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy to establish drug pedigree rules. The bills were signed in early June 2005, and became effective immediately.

The legislation addresses the issuance and renewal of licenses and permits for both in- and out-of-state wholesale distributors, chain pharmacy warehouses, and repackagers that ship to Oklahoma. The bills establish guidelines for information that must be submitted to the Oklahoma Board to be considered for licensure. In addition, VAWD is cited as an authorized outside agency.

Bryan Potter, executive director of the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, had an integral role in creating the language of the Bill. Applying for VAWD accreditation will be the easiest method for registrants to meet the requirements of the new law, according to Potter. In addition, by accepting VAWD, the Board will save staff time and resources.

In part, the bills read: . . .

2. The Board shall be authorized to use an outside agency, such as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or the Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors (VAWD), to accredit wholesale distributors and repackagers.

3. The Board may exempt by rule wholesalers accredited by VAWD from the provisions of subparagraphs a and b of paragraph 1 of this subsection. . . .

The referenced subparagraphs a and b state that certain information must be submitted to the Oklahoma Board by wholesale distributors including, but not limited to, type of ownership, names and principal owners or officers and their Social Security Numbers (SSNs), names of designated managers and their SSNs, applicants' and designated managers' fingerprints, criminal background check information for applicants and designated managers, a copy of the license from the applicants' or designated managers' home state, and bond requirements. These basic requirements are a part of the VAWD program's stringent safety guidelines for wholesale distributors that will help protect patients from counterfeit drugs affecting the United States' drug supply. Applicants for VAWD accreditation undergo a criteria compliance review, licensure verification, an inspection, and screening through NABP's National Clearinghouse of Licensure, Certification, and Accreditation.

Oklahoma is the second state to include VAWD in its wholesale distributor legislation. In May 2005, Indiana passed legislation requiring wholesale distributors to obtain VAWD accreditation to be licensed in the state.

To view the final versions of SB 640 and HB 1347, visit www.sos.state.ok.us/. For more information on the VAWD program, visit NABP's Web site at www.nabp.net/vawd/intro.asp or contact Eleni Anagnostiadis, NABP's professional affairs director, at 301/214-9078 or via e-mail at eanagnostiadis@nabp.net.

Renee Renganathan