Despite growing concern by Canadian officials that cross-border prescription drug shopping by Americans will seriously deplete supplies for Canadian consumers, the Montgomery County, Md., Council on Tuesday voted 6-2 to approve a bill that requires county officials to give their employees the option to purchase those lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada anyway.

The proposal was approved despite opposition from the U.S. FDA, which before the vote, sent Thomas McGinnis, the agency's director of pharmacy affairs, "to reiterate the agency's position that drugs from foreign sources are neither safe nor legal". McGinnis said that the county could be held liable and possibly bankrupted if someone were harmed by imported drugs.

The 'reimportation program' was approved by the council in September, but it has "struggled" since then in part because county officials have been reluctant to "blatantly snub" FDA. Under the new resolution, County Executive Douglas Duncan -- who has been accused by some people of delaying the program -- will be required to participate in its administration.

Duncan spokesperson David Weaver said county administration officials are hoping to receive a waiver from the federal government to operate the program. He added that even if a waiver is not issued, the administration will "work with the council to implement the law." County Council President Tom Perez said, "We will be a leader on the issue of securing safe, low-cost prescription drugs on the behalf of our citizens." Mr. Perez did not comment on the Canadian position that to continue to provide American citizens with low-cost prescription drugs from north of the border will result in Canadian drug consumers going without.

Council members last year said the program could save taxpayers $15 million to $20 million, but some more recent estimates have suggested savings closer to $1 million. It remains unclear however if American officials have been consulting with Canadians regarding their position that Canada must stop acting as America's drug store.