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Consumer protection is top priority for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as well as for John Horton of LegitScript. Part of the job of the FDA is to protect the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use. It is the work of LegitScript to monitor and police internet drug distributors selling low cost drugs of questionable quality through illegitimate websites. As the only corporate entity whose standards for online pharmacy verification and investigation are recognized by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Legit Script has unique abilities. They have established their credibility in the areas of Internet compliance research and investigations, and online pharmaceuticals market research. Legit Script's president and founder, John Horton, works tirelessly to monitor and police Internet sites which sell prescription drugs to the public. Keeping Internet pharmaceutical firms in compliance with established rules and regulations has become a passion for John Horton. As part of his efforts to keep internet pharmacies accountable, Horton has posted a list of 339 sites which have been researched and approved by Legit Script. The list is updated on a continuing basis, assuring current data is always available. There is a link to each site posted giving additional valuable information to the consumer. Between the FDA and LegitScript, our level of protection is increased substantially. Thanks to a new law signed in by President Obama, we now have a more consumer-friendly recall search engine where consumers can search for food, drugs and other product recalls easier and quicker than ever before. The search engine brings together information going back to 2009 from recall announcements, news releases and other sources. All of the data is aggregated into a table format giving the date of the recall, product name, description and the reason for the recall. Under the new law in effect, the FDA is required to indicate whether the recall is ongoing or has been completed. In addition, unlike under the previous law, the FDA now has mandatory recall authority for products other than infant formula. In other words, the new law is much more comprehensive and includes foods and feed products - providing increased general protection to us all. Before actually launching the new search engine, the FDA consulted with stakeholder groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumers Union, Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Pew Health Group, and Safe Tables Our Priority in an effort to gain their insights on how to most effectively and easily communicate recall information to consumers. The FDA also encourages and welcomes suggestions from anyone with firsthand experience in communicating vital information to the public concerning recalls. The more we all get involved and cooperate with entities such as the FDA and LegitScript, the better we can reduce the threat of illegitimate drug websites and food and drug recalls. Author's Biography: John Horton is President and Founder of LegitScript, and a former aide in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). John Horton founded LegitScript with the intent of helping people be sure that they are buying safe and genuine legit script medication on the Internet. LegitScript, is an internet enforcement service group, that has been successfully investigating sites to determine whether or not such sites are in compliance with the law and accepted standards of medical and pharmacy practice ethics.
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