When it comes to safe and compliant drug disposal, it’s important to know the laws and regulations for containment and safe disposal of pharmaceuticals. There are many subcategories of pharmaceutical waste, all with their own unique set of disposal requirements.. How do you ensure compliance?
One of the first steps is to create a checklist or a list of questions to ask yourself when reviewing your facility’s disposal policies and processes.
Where do you start? The laws.
Who makes drug disposal laws and regulations?
Find, review, and adhere to the laws of your state and the federal government. It is important to understand that the state agency has the authority to impose more stringent requirements, but never less stringent requirements. Several agencies are involved in drug disposal compliance, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Other organizations such as the Department of Transportation have detailed guidelines for the proper packaging and shipment of pharmaceutical waste during transportation. Together, these agencies provide a robust outline for management of all pharmaceutical wastes to ensure the protection of human health and the environment.
• Some specific regulations for pharmaceutical disposal include: Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
• Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Note that RCRA only regulates hazardous pharmaceuticals. However, any facility dealing with controlled substances – especially with disposal – must follow DEA guidelines that can be found here.
How to create a checklist for drug disposal compliance – start with the basics
Policies and procedures for compliance in handling and disposal of pharmaceuticals are essential for safety in any facility. Implementation and best practices will differ slightly among facilities depending on geographic location, size, and type of facility, but certain topics are common for all. Read more >
This post is related to:
Returns, Reverse Distribution
