Prescription drug distributors must operate in compliance with rules found in 25 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Sections 229.419 - 229.430 - Licensing of Wholesale Distributors of Prescription Drugs; Including Good Manufacturing Practices. Section 229.420 of these rules adopts by reference certain federal laws and regulations applicable to prescription drug distributors, including the requirements in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 205, Guidelines for State Licensing of Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors.
Prescription drug distributors are required to establish, maintain and adhere to all written policies and procedures required in 21 CFR, Part 205 - Section 205.50(g). Among these are policies and procedures for the receipt, security, storage, recall, inventory (including correcting all errors and inaccuracies), and distribution of prescription drugs (e.g., stock rotation; identifying, recording, and reporting losses or thefts; and disaster preparedness).
According to 21 CFR, Part 205 – Section 205.50(c), “All prescription drugs shall be stored at appropriate temperatures and under appropriate conditions in accordance with requirements, if any, in the labeling of such drugs, or with requirements in the current edition of an official compendium, such as the United States Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF).” Therefore, you should check the drug labeling for any temperature requirements and, according to Section 205.50(c)(2), if there are requirements, “Appropriate manual, electromechanical, or electric temperature and humidity recording equipment, devices, and/or logs shall be utilized to document proper storage of prescription drugs.”
Health and Safety Code Chapter 483, Texas Dangerous Drug Act, designates the following people as authorized to possess a dangerous drug:
According to 21 CFR, Part 205 – Section 205.50(a)(3), “All facilities at which prescription drugs are stored, warehoused, handled, held, offered, marketed, or displayed, shall have a quarantine area for storage of prescription drugs that are outdated, damaged, deteriorated, misbranded, or adulterated, or that are in immediate or sealed, secondary containers that have been opened.”
If your firm distributes medical devices in addition to prescription drugs, you need a license to distribute the devices. If the prescription drugs you distribute are restricted to medical gases only, you might be eligible for a Multiple Products License. Visit our Drug Manufacturers and Distributors Licensing Requirements webpage for more information on Multiple Products Licenses. If you distribute prescription drugs other than medical gases and are interested in becoming licensed as a device distributor, visit our Medical Device Manufacturers and Distributors Licensing Requirements webpage.
For more Industry guidance and requirements on prescription drugs, visit Controlled Substances and Abusable Synthetic Substances.