[Pharmwaste] NY Senate Bill 7998 - Important!

[Jeff Hollar]

Sorry for any cross postings.

 

New York State Senate Bill 7998 - Requires drug manufacturers to collect
unused and expired drugs from hospitals and residential health care
facilities for environmentally sound disposal thereof.

 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: The bill prohibits the disposal of any drug by
hospitals and residential health care facilities as mixed solid waste in a
landfill; and only allows drug disposal through a drug collection program
established by this bill. The bill would create a drug collection program
which would be the responsibility of drug manufacturers who market their
drugs in NYS. Each, manufacturer would be responsible for all costs and the
security of its drug collection program. Manufacturers would be authorized
to contract with a public or private third party to conduct the drug
collection program, but all costs would be borne by the manufacturer. No
fees could be charged to hospitals and residential health care facilities
for drug collection. Such facilities would be required to dispose of all
unused and expired drugs through the drug collection programs. Manufacturers
would be required dispose of all collected drugs in an environmental sound
manner, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of
Health. All manufacturers would be required to report biannually to the DEC
on their drug collection programs

 

Full story at: http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S7998

 

My comments: This appears to have a larger financial impact on the
manufacturers than the Maine bill that did not pass as this one pertains to
hospitals and LTC facilities.  Does this mean the manufacturer will have to
pay for reverse distribution services as they take back "unused and expired
drugs"?  This would be a first!  What about the expired drugs that are
considered "product" and not "waste"?  Expired products have the potential
for manufacturer credit.  Why destroy creditable drug products?  What about
the small manufacturers out there that have difficulties just answering the
phone?  If they don't have the resources to answer the phone half the time,
how are they going to afford the disposal services?  This is really an
industry changing bill and one I'm sure will gain attention from the
manufacturers!

 

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Jeff Hollar

President

PharmWaste Technologies, Inc.

Urbandale, IA 50322

515-276-5302

Email: jhollar at pwaste.com

Website: www.pwaste.com

 

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