NEW DELHI: Throwing with household trash is not an ideal way to get rid of them. The country's drug controller is working on a guidance document detailing methods to be followed for safe disposal of unused and expired medicines. "The need was felt for safe and proper disposal of expired/unused medicines/drugs for protecting the environment and public health," a government official aware of the development told ET.
The document is in the final stages of completion. It will include procedures to be followed for disposal, collection, storage and transportation of expired and unused drugs. Improper disposal of medications that have crossed the expiry date mentioned on the label or not used by the individual for whom they were prescribed and purchased may be hazardous to public health, animal health and environment, officials said.
The recently notified Schedule M under Drug Rules prescribed the requirements for manufacturers for proper and safe storage of waste material awaiting disposal. The guidance document in works has been prepared to provide the best practices that may be followed for safe and proper disposal of expired/unused drugs, the official cited above said. The document has been prepared keeping in view various international guidelines including those issued by the World Health Organisation ( ) and the US Food and Drug Administration ( ).
The Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016, have also been considered, officials said. The Central Drugs Standard .
