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Ryan Haight Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005

Introduced: February 16, 2005 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 14, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 16, 2005
Introduced in House
Feb 16, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ryan Haight Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to prohibit any person from dispensing a prescription drug pursuant to a sale if: (1) any part of the transaction is conducted through an Internet site; (2) the person dispenses the drug by mailing or shipping the drug to the purchaser; and (3) such site fails to provide the identities and licensing information of the seller, pharmacists, or medical consultants.

Prohibits a person from selling or dispensing a prescription drug if: (1) the purchaser communicated with the person through the Internet; (2) the purchaser did not have a valid prescription when the communication began; (3) the person provided for the involvement of a practitioner; (4) the practitioner issued a prescription for the drug that was purchased; (5) the person knew that no qualifying medical relationship existed (defines "qualifying medical relationship" as requiring an in-person medical evaluation or a medical evaluation as a covering practitioner); and (6) the person received payment. Excludes certain acts involving telemedicine, group practices, and practices that promote the public health.

Allows States to bring civil actions against a person for violations of this Act.

Prevents Internet providers from being held liable for dispensing or selling prescriptions drugs on account of another person's activities.

Includes the dispensing or selling of a prescription drug in violation of this Act as a prohibited act under FFDCA.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a grant or contract to the National Clearinghouse on Internet Prescribing to identify and report Internet sites that violate Federal or State laws concerning the dispensing of drugs.

What's happening now March 14, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 840: Ryan Haight Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-840/
MLA
"H.R. 840: Ryan Haight Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-840/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 840, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-840/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 840: Ryan Haight Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-840/)
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