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  1. Drug Supply Chain Integrity

Check Licensure of Wholesale Drug Distributors and Third-Party Logistics Providers

Prescription drugs should only be purchased from wholesale drug distributors holding a valid license in the United States and who are authorized1  by law. Unlicensed and unauthorized trading partners put patients at risk of taking unsafe, possibly illegitimate product such as counterfeit, stolen, or diverted drugs.  If a manufacturer, wholesale distributor, or dispenser uses a third-party logistics provider (3PL) to coordinate warehousing or other logistics services, the 3PL must also be authorized.

To check if a wholesale drug distributor or third party-logistics provider2 is an authorized trading partner:

  1. Check the applicable state licensure website listed below to determine if the wholesale drug distributor or third-party logistics provider has a valid license in the state where they are conducting business, and
  2. Check the FDA annual reporting database to determine if a wholesale drug distributor or third-party logistics provider submitted an annual report to FDA.3 Learn more about DSCSA authorized trading partner requirements at: Are you ready for the Drug Supply Chain Security Act

U.S. State Agencies Responsible for Licensing Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors2

State State Agencies Responsible for Licensing Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors and Third-Party Logistics Providers 
Alabama (AL) Alabama Board of Pharmacy
Alaska (AK) Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Arizona (AZ) Arizona Board of Pharmacy
Arkansas (AK) Arkansas Board of Pharmacy
California (CA) California Board of Pharmacy
Colorado (CO) Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Connecticut (CT) Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Delaware (DE) Delaware Division of Professional Regulation
District of Columbia (DC) District of Columbia Health Professional Licensing Administration
Florida (FL) Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Georgia (GA) Georgia Board of Pharmacy
Hawaii (HI) Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
Idaho (ID) Idaho Board of Pharmacy
Illinois (IL) Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Indiana (IN) Indiana Board of Pharmacy
Iowa (IA) Iowa Board of Pharmacy
Kansas (KS) Kansas Board of Pharmacy
Kentucky (KY) Kentucky Board of Pharmacy
Louisiana (LA) Louisiana Board of Wholesale Drug Distributors
Maine (MN) Maine Regulatory Licensing & Permitting
Maryland (MD) Maryland Board of Pharmacy
Massachusetts (MA) Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services
Michigan (MI) Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Minnesota (MN) Minnesota Board of Pharmacy
Mississippi (MS) Mississippi Board of Pharmacy
Missouri (MO) Missouri Division of Professional Regulation
Montana (MT) Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit

Can obtain a full list for $20 OR mail request to:  Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Licensure Unit PO Box 94986 Lincoln, NE 68509-4986 Phone: (402) 471-2115 

Nevada (NV) Nevada Board of Pharmacy
New Hampshire (NH) New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy
New Jersey (NJ) New Jersey Department of Health
New Mexico (NM) New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
New York (NY) New York State Office of the Professions
North Carolina (NC) North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
North Dakota (ND) North Dakota Board of Pharmacy
Ohio (OH) Ohio Board of Pharmacy
Oklahoma (OK) Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy
Oregon (OR) Oregon Board of Pharmacy
Pennsylvania (PA) Pennsylvania Department of Health
Rhode Island (RI) Rhode Island Department of Health
South Carolina (SC) South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Registration
South Dakota (SD) South Dakota Board of Pharmacy
Tennessee (TN) Tennessee Department of Health
Texas (TX) Texas Department of State Health Services
Utah (UT) Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
Vermont (VT) Vermont Board of Pharmacy
Virginia (VA) Virginia Department of Health Professions
Washington (WA) Washington Department of Health
West Virginia (WV) West Virginia Board of Pharmacy
Wisconsin (WI) Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Wyoming (WY) Wyoming Board of Pharmacy

1 Authorized in compliance with section 582 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, as added by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).
2 A third-party logistics provider is considered to be licensed for purposes of the DSCSA until the effective date of the third-party logistics provider licensing regulations issued by FDA, unless FDA publishes notice of a finding that a 3PL does not utilize good handling and distribution practices. In cases where a state operates a specific third-party logistics provider licensing program, state requirements for third-party logistics licensures apply until the final regulations take effect. This information will be revised when final regulations are issued.
3 FDA asks that annual reports be submitted between January 1 and March 31 of each year.  See FDA’s draft Guidance for Industry, Annual Reporting by Prescription Drug Wholesale Distributors and Third-Party Logistics Providers: Questions and Answers.

 
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