Guidelines on the Disposal of Medicinal Products for a Retail Pharmacy Business

The purpose of these guidelines is to facilitate compliance with the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 488 of 2008) in relation to the disposal of medicinal products, including veterinary medicinal products, in pharmacies.

Compliance with the regulations and these guidelines will ensure that the disposal of medicinal products, within a pharmacy, is carried out in a manner which will not result in any danger to public health or any risk to the environment.

Every pharmacy should operate a comprehensive, auditable system for the disposal of waste medicinal products which assures the safety of patients and the public.

Waste medicinal products are medicinal products, including veterinary medicinal products, which are not fit for sale or supply, i.e. patient-returned, expired or otherwise non-conforming medicinal products. Non-conforming medicinal products are medicinal products unfit for sale or supply, for example, a medicinal product which is damaged or has been stored outside the terms of its Marketing Authorisation.