European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday september 28, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 17 morality and the Export of . Drugs by William Kronholm associated press resident Ronald Reagan s proposal to allow the Export of drugs not approved Tor use in the United states promises to reopen a heated debate in America Over tha morality of Selling foreign Consumers medicines that americans won t use themselves. Opponents say the Reagan plan would make Guinea pigs of sick people overseas. Proponents say the United states should t refuse to allow another country to buy drugs it believes will help its citizens. The president proposed that Congress repeal a ban on exports of pharmaceutical products that have not been determined to be Safe and effective by the food and drug administration. The proposal is part of a refurbished administration Trade policy that focuses on opening foreign markets to american goods rather than protecting Domestic industries. A spokeswoman for Republican sen. Orrin g. Hatch of Utah who has championed the cause of drug exports in Congress said after Reagan s speech that Hatch would introduce legislation implementing the president s plan. Similar Bills by Hatch have failed in the past. The legislation will face determined opposition from those who contend it is immoral. The United states of America has the finest and most stringent drug approval process in the  the american Public health association said in opposing a similar Hatch Bill last year. We must not fall to extend the same protections we provide americans to International Consumers. To do otherwise would be morally wrong and would be bad International  the Export in has been in Federal Law since 1938. Repeated attempts to repeal it have been unsuccessful. The ban forbids exports of new drugs unless they Havo been approved by the Fra even if they Are Legal in the receiving country. Hatch chairman of the Senate labor and human resources committee says the restriction is unique in the world. The United nations has adopted a policy of leaving such restrictions up to the importing nation not the exporter he says. Proponents say the . Policy is inappropriately paternalistic. Fra commissioner Frank d. Young says the United states should respect the right of Sovereign nations to choose what medicines should be made available within their Borders. Each Sovereign government has the chief responsibility Lor determining the types of drugs that can be imported from  Young said earlier this year. Irene Forde Howard a spokeswoman for Hatch said that while some details of Hatch s new Bill remain unresolved it will be similar to a Bill last year that the senator said would avoid abuses feared by opponents. Hatch s 1984 Bill endorsed by the Fra and the pharmaceutical Industry would ease restrictions on exports by recognizing drug approvals of other countries that Are determined by Fra to have adequate drug testing procedures. Such legislation is endorsed by the world health organization among others. But it is bitterly opposed by the american Public health association the associated  and Lexicology its the consumer federation of America and consumer groups in Australia Belgium Japan and India. They argue that such exports turn the rest of the world s population into human Guinea pigs Lor drug experimentation while americans remain protected by the strict approval requirements set by Fra. And the interest of drug manufacturers in exporting such drugs they argue is in the profits to be made not the diseases to be cured. Or. Sidney m. Wolfe of the Public citizen health research group testified before Congress earlier this year that repeal of the ban establishes a double Standard which violates our Basic belief that the health and safety of International Consumers is no less important than Hal of american  to the extent that . Drug approval takes longer because our Laws impose higher standards delays in approval must be  said Wolfe. The enactment of a double Standard of Protection one Rule applicable to us and one applicable to everyone else is clearly not the proper  Wolfe predicted major problems if the Bill were approved arguing that despite Hatch s restrictions drug companies would Rush to dump their More dangerous drugs in third world countries that do not have the scientific capability in properly evaluate the hazards. He said it also would run counter to an International trend toward tightening controls Over the Export of drugs and other hazardous products. Such actions have been taken or Are being considered by the european parliament the organization of american states the United nations and other International groups Wolfe said. Member the Good old Days when a sign would Flash across the to screen. It s 11 o clock. Do you know where your children Are and you would t have a clue now we know where they Are. They re sprawled an Over the living room in front of the to set with a stack of rental video cassettes eating and drinking their Way through the House like a plague of locusts. The Var and the baby Boomers have found one another and the combination is revolutionizing the american family As we know  other night As our kids were watching Flash dance again my husband and i tiptoed through the room to the door. Where Are you going asked my son. Out we said. Out where just  do you know what time it is he asked. Ten or so Why it s time when most people Are going to bed. The Only thing you can get into at this hour is  look we said i Don t know Why you can t just spend a night at Home once in a while and watch television with us. Would it kill you we could pop a Little Corn and be a  it s  we said. Besides How Many times can we watch Flash dance and romancing the Stone you never watch our  we d watch them if you did t watch trashy things. The Only things you want to see Are people with English  Well we d like to know where you get All this Money to run around said my son. That s our problem said my husband. So what time Are you coming Home asked our daughter. I Don t know i said. Whenever we get  that s not Good enough mom. You know you have to go to work tomorrow. Let s make it no later than  give i a break i said. I m 57 years  no you give me a break. I lose another night s sleep and i la look like an unpaved  later my husband and i returned to see them slumped in their chairs and the Var playing raiders of the lost Ark. My daughter stirred it s about time. You know i can t go to bed until i hear the motor turn off and you re Home. Lock up before you go to bed and turn off the  kids can be so cruel. She knows i Don t know How to turn it off. I la to glad when we get our own apartment. O to Anodic to lots san Dicle