Officials said the letters were part of a coordinated, week-long, international effort involving 26 nations. Called the International Internet Week of Action, the effort was intended to curb illegal actions involving medical products.
The FDA said it targeted 136 Web sites that appeared to be engaged in the illegal sale of unapproved or misbranded drugs to U.S. consumers. None of the Web sites were for pharmacies in the United States or Canada, the federal agency said.
In addition to the warning letters, the FDA said it notified Internet service providers and domain name registrars that the Web sites were selling products in violation of U.S. law.
"The FDA works in close collaboration with our regulatory and law enforcement counterparts in the United States and throughout the world to protect the public," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg. "Many U.S.
consumers are being misled in the hopes of saving money by purchasing prescription drugs over the Internet from illegal pharmacies. Unfortunately, these drugs are often counterfeit, contaminated or unapproved products, or contain an inconsistent amount of the active ingredient. Taking these drugs can pose a danger to consumers."
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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