FRENCH DECREE ON DRUG DISPOSAL

In France, responsibility for the disposal of pharmaceuticals used in the home falls on the industry's distributors and packers, says a decree expected to take effect on April 1. It proposes three means of disposal: via an agreed body; through the establishment of a deposit point for unused products; and via collection by a company or a group of companies.

Due to the nature of medicines, the strict rules that govern them and public health concerns, the volume of packages on the market cannot be reduced, taking into account the amount of information that must accompany them and the regulations governing them, says the decree. Also, drug advertising regulations mean attention cannot be drawn to environmental protection through the use of the "green spot" - the proposed sign of being accepted for disposal by the agreed body, nor can the presence of a "green spot" be used to encourage wholesalers and packers.

Unused or wasted drugs and their packaging should be returned via their distribution channel, which has a limited number of participants that know the products well, for sorting and incineration. If security and quality regulations allow, unused drugs may be redirected to humanitarian organizations. Products may be returned to pharmacies where, if unused, they can be sorted for redirection. Wholesale distributors collect drugs for incineration from the pharmacies. The National Council of the Order of Pharmacists is responsible for coordinating and managing the scheme, which awaits approval by the Ministries for the Environment, Industry, Agriculture and Health.