Product liability bill
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
In a Nov. 5 letter to senators and members of the House Commerce Subcommittee, NDMA urged support for product liability legislation (S 687) cosponsored by Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D- W.Va.), Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) and others. Characterizing the bill as a "fair" and "responsible" measure, NDMA said that S 687 meets the need for a stable climate in which our members can produce new, safe and effective" OTCs at competitive prices." The bill cleared the Senate Commerce Committee by a 16-4 vote at a Nov. 9 markup and will be referred to the Judiciary Committee and then to the Senate floor. Supporters of S 687 expect consideration by the full Senate in early 1994. As in previous years, the bill contains a provision to protect from punitive damages manufacturers of products considered safe and effective by FDA. No action has been taken on House companion measures HR 1910 and HR 1954.