By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--Senior Canadian officials have informed their U.S. counterparts they will take "all necessary steps" to prevent exports of bulk prescription drugs to Florida following a landmark decision from the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA said on Jan. 5 that Florida would be the first state allowed to import drugs from Canada, which was considered a milestone in efforts to reduce the cost of medicines that could change the way Americans fill prescriptions.

The U.S. industry lobby group representing drug makers objected, calling the FDA decision "reckless," and suggested legal action was possible.

Drug makers in Canada warned allowing such exports to Florida threatened to disrupt the Canadian health system. Pharmaceutical products are often priced lower in Canada and other countries.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland said he spoke with senior Biden administration officials "to express Canada's disappointment with the FDA decision and to advise that Canada will take all necessary measures to protect the Canadian drug supply."

Among the officials with whom Holland said he spoke were U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and U.S. ambassador to Canada David Cohen.

Former Canadian officials and drug industry analysts said it was unlikely that Ottawa would allow Florida to import the medication. Last year, the west coast province of British Columbia moved to restrict sales to Americans of drugs used for weight loss. And in 2020, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada issued an order prohibiting companies from exporting any drugs if doing so would create or worsen shortages at home in Canada.

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 16, 2024 18:17 ET (23:17 GMT)