NABP’s Drug Distributor reaccreditation (formerly known as Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors®) is a resource for industry and regulatory bodies that establish uniform safeguards meant to protect the public health. Drug Distributor reaccreditation plays a pivotal role in preventing counterfeit drugs from entering the United States drug supply and protects the public from drugs that have been contaminated, diverted, or counterfeited. This accreditation process required Willow Birch to demonstrate compliance to a comprehensive set of regulatory standards and best practices in safely distributing prescription drugs from manufacturers to pharmacies and other institutions.
State-Specific Requirements
The state boards of pharmacy play an important role in regulating the drug supply chain. State laws and regulations that the boards develop help protect the public from receiving medications that have been contaminated or counterfeited.
Currently, 23 states recognize NABP accreditation. Many of these states recognize NABP as a means of implementing the licensing provisions of new laws, while mitigating the fiscal and operational impact on their board.
Of the 23 states that recognize NABP, Indiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming require NABP accreditation as a component of licensure. For further information on state-specific licensing requirements, inquire with each of the states in which your facility conducts business.
Why Was NABP Created?
In 2003, NABP convened a task force to aid in board efforts regarding counterfeit drugs and wholesale distributors. The task force recommended revisions to NABP’s Model Rules for the Licensure of Wholesale Distributors in order to make it difficult for illegitimate wholesalers to become licensed and transact business. The Model Rules are a subset of the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, a document on which many states model their state pharmacy practice acts and rules.
The task force also proposed the creation of an accreditation program and clearinghouse for wholesale distributors – a plan that was immediately supported by Food and Drug Administration – to further combat counterfeit drugs. NABP was operational by 2004.
