H.R. 5839 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve the safety of drugs.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
(Log inSafeguarding America's Pharmaceuticals Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to editrequire the wikiSecretary of the Treasury to destroy imported counterfeit drugs and becertain adulterated or misbranded imported drugs.

Requires the firstmanufacturer of a prescription drug to provide to each wholesale distributor or dispenser a detailed summarypacking list or comparable document that includes information identifying the drug's proprietary and established names and National Drug Code number.

Requires each person engaged in wholesale distribution of a prescription drug to provide information on each prior transaction involving the bill!)drug.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to report to Congress on the feasibility and operational efficiencies of adopting security technologies, including track and trace technology throughout the prescription drug supply chain. Phases in requirements for standardized numerical identifiers that are unique to each unit of a prescription drug.

Requires the Secretary to issue regulations to establish an effective drug identification and tracking system to authenticate the wholesale distribution history of any prescription drug that is subject to a requirement for such an identifier.

Requires the Comptroller General to study the availability and cost of technologies to dispensers to comply with this Act.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) award matching grants for drug identification and tracking systems to ensure the security and integrity of the drug supply chain; and (2) issue guidelines for wholesale distributors that prescribe requirements that include mandatory background checks and physical inspection of facilities.

Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.

Requires the Secretary to study threats to the domestic prescription drug supply chain and make recommendations for improvements.
</summary>

<!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->

== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 4/17/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
</status>

<!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->

== Points in Favor ==

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
<!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! -->

== Points Against ==

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)
<!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! -->