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A01010 Summary:

BILL NOA01010A
 
SAME ASSAME AS S08880
 
SPONSORWeprin
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd Art 38-A Art Head, 820, Gen Bus L
 
Makes it illegal to knowingly alter, mutilate, destroy, obliterate, obstruct or remove by means of a price sticker or otherwise the whole or any part of the label, including where applicable the expiration date displayed thereon, of any over-the-counter drug or cosmetic.
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A01010 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1010A
 
SPONSOR: Weprin
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the sale of over-the-counter drugs and cosmetic products   PURPOSE: To promote and protect the health and safety of purchasers of O-T-C drugs and cosmetics by enabling them to read such products' packaging or labels in a complete, unaltered and unobstructed condition, at the time of purchase or thereafter. Such labels are required by federal law and regulations.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1. Changes the article heading of Article 38-A of the General Business law. Section 2. Amends subdivision 2 of Section 820 of the General Business law, to make it unlawful for any retailer to knowingly alter, obstruct, obscure or remove, by means of a sticker, tag or other device used to deter theft, or a price sticker, or otherwise, the whole or any part of the label or packaging of any over-the-counter (0-T-C) drug or cosmetic as such label is required by the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Art, and by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) rules and regulations that implement the Act's label requirements for such products. Violators would be subject to the existing enforcement remedy contained in GBL, Section 821. Under that provision, compliance with FDA rules and regu- lations constitutes a complete defense to any enforcement action.   JUSTIFICATION: At the very foundation of consumer protection for purchasers of 0-T-C drugs and cosmetics are the labeling requirements of Chapters V and VI of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the implementing regu- lations of the Food and Drug Administration. (See 21 C.F.R. Part 201, Subchapter C, et seq. (0-T-C drugs) and 21 FR Part 701 cosmetics). Drug labels provide vital health and safety information including indi- cations, directions for use, warnings and precautions, drug interaction information, cautions and list of ingredients. Cosmetic labels must contain a designation of ingredients, a requirement of special impor- tance for users who suffer particular allergic reactions. In early 1920, the Department of Law's Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection conducted a random survey of drug stores operated by eight major chains located in the metropolitan New York City area in an effort to determine whether the labels of O-T-C drugs or cosmetics offered for sale to the public were being obscured or obstructed by the retailers' practice of superimposing upon such labels the store's own price stick- ers or security stickers or other devices intended to deter theft. The survey revealed that in a significant number of instances, retailers were obstructing or obscuring product labels by placing paper stickers or plastic devices over the manufacturer's product labels. This practice made it impossible, in many cases, for prospective purchasers to read the labels before purchase. Even after purchase, consumers, in many cases, would be unable to read the labels because the removal of the retailer's stickers would result in the unintended destruction of the manufacturer's label as well. Indeed, in one case, the cashier at a major drug retail chain store tore off the store's sticker from the principal display panel of an O-T-C drug product and, in doing so, destroyed the manufacturer's label at the same time. In general, this practice could have severe health and safety consequences. For example, the product in question in this particular case was "Collyrium Fresh Sterile Eye Drops" manufactured by Wyeth Laboratories. That part of the manufacturer's label destroyed by the store's cashier included crucial product warnings and cautions, as follows: Warnings: Do not use if solution changes color or becomes cloudy. Remove contact lenses before using if you have glaucoma do not use this product except under the advice and supervision of a physician. Overuse of this product may produce increased redness of the eye. To avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surface. Replace cap after using. If you experience eye pain, changes in vision, contin- ued redness or irritation of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 72 hours, discontinue use and consult a physi- cian. Keep this and all medication out of the reach of children. Retain this carton for complete product information. Keep bottle lightly closed at Room Temperature; Approx. 77 degrees F/25 degrees C. The Department of Law survey confirmed that the above-described practice by retail drug stores is common and widespread. Case by case enforcement would not offer consumers the full protection that a legislative initi- ative offers. This bill builds upon an earlier law that addressed a related problem. In 1985, a survey published by the Department of Law revealed, inter aide, that retailers of O-T-C drugs were similarly obstructing the expiration date of such drug products offered for sale. (See Expiration. Dating of Over-TheCounter Drugs in New York, a report by New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams (January 1985)). Subse- quently, the Legislature adopted an Attorney General's Program bill (1986, Ch. 697) that included GBL Section 820(2), a provision that makes such practice unlawful. The present proposal would offer parallel protection for consumers with regard to the obstruction of labels.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2023: referred to rules 2021/2022: referred to consumer affairs and protection 2019/2020: referred to consumer affairs and protection 2017/2018: referred to consumer affairs and protection   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
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