Canadian Pharmacies and U.S. Mail-Order Savings: An Update This article is a brief update on the status of the laws, regulations and enforcement associated with importing prescriptions drugs by mail into the United States from Canada. In 2004, its estimated that more than 2 million Americans ordered medications from licensed online Canadian pharmacies to save as much as 40 to 80% on the cost of their prescriptions. (Although many US pharmaceutical firms, perhaps justifiably, challenge the size of these savings.) One of the priniciple concerns of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is the safety of medications manufactured and sold outside of the United States. Advocates of the use of Canadian pharmacies contend that Canada's regulatory system is comparable to the FDA in its rigorous enforcement. Like US pharmacies, Candian pharmacies also require a prescription from a licensed physicisan prior to dispensing controlled medications. In November of 2005, the US Customs and Border Protection agents began seizing individual mail order packages, containing prescription drugs, that were to enter the United States from Canada. This dramatically limited the ability of US consumers to take advantage of the cost differential in the prices of prescription drugs available in Canada as compared to the United States. Enforcement of Import Restrictions Eased For Individuals On Oct. 4, 2006, the Associated Press reported that the U. S. federal government would stop seizing small amounts of lower-priced prescription medications mailed from Canada, starting Oct. 9, 2006. Customs spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger confirmed the policy change saying the agency would no longer intercept the drugs or issue letters to postal carriers indicating it is illegal to import prescription medications.  Senator Bill Nelson said that the new policy will allow Americans to import small amounts of prescription drugs — roughly a 90-day supply. With this announcement, CBS News summarized the status of the situation at its online site by writing, "It is still illegal to import prescription drugs from abroad, but Senator Nelson said he received assurances from the FDA that the agency will not act on small drug shipments for individuals."