Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) — Merck & Co., the second-biggest U.S. drugmaker, this week started shutting off sales to Canadian pharmacies exporting drugs to American patients, adding to manufacturers' efforts to disrupt the cross-border trade. Read the full story at bloomberg.com.

OPINION – Prescription drug importation, a dangerous scheme loudly trumpeted by some familiar state and local leaders, has long been struggling on life support. But recent developments might finally force policymakers to pull the plug once and for all. And it couldn't happen soon enough for those of us in the Prairie State. By Greg Blankenship Monday, January 17, 2005…

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Monday it is opposed to importing prescription drugs as a way to combat rising health-care costs. 3:42 PM CST Monday Read the full story at bizjournals.com.

Washington — Doctors likely won't see a drop in the volume of patients getting reimported drugs via state programs or by their own initiative even now that the Bush administration has officially weighed in with strong reservations about the practice. By David Glendinning, AMNews staff. Jan. 17, 2005 Read the full story at ama-assn.org.

ST. PAUL – With the threat of losing Canada as a source of cheaper prescription drugs for about 2 million Americans, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and others are looking to Europe to fill the void. BY MARTIGA LOHN, ASSOCIATED PRESS Posted on Sun, Jan. 16, 2005 Read the full story at duluthsuperior.com.

MONTPELIER, Vt. — U.S. states that have looked to Canada to help their residents win steep discounts on prescription drug prices are turning to Europe for the same deals because the Canadian government is considering shutting off the southbound flow. By ROSS SNEYD, Associated Press Writer January 14, 2005 Read the full story at newsday.com.

Montgomery County's plans to make Canadian prescription drugs available to employees has hit a snag after an analysis by the school system concluded that the practice wouldn't save as much money as hoped and could be more expensive than domestic sources for drugs. By Tim Craig Thursday, January 13, 2005 Read the full story at washingtonpost.com.

(HealthDayNews) — Consumers who want to buy prescription drugs online are faced with the daunting challenge of finding the right provider, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concedes. Read the full story at ajc.com.

Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) — Canada may restrict the ability of Americans to buy cheaper drugs by mail, prompting Illinois, Rhode Island, Montana and other states to seek new suppliers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Read the full story at bloomberg.com.

Director General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Dora Akunyili, said the agency destroyed counterfeit and substandard products worth $54.86m (N7.68b) between April 2001 and September 2004. Kingsley Nwezeh, Abuja January 12, 2005 Read the full story at allafrica.com.