Description

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) commissioned a survey in 2007 in 27 EU Member States and Norway to determine how the collection systems for household waste and unused/ expired medicinal products were being implemented.

Building on the findings of that survey, a multi-national pharmaceutical firm seeked to gain a better understanding of the situation with regards to the collection and disposal of household waste and unused/ expired medicinal products in Cyprus, in order to minimize business risks which could be associated with weaknesses in the area of its unused/ expired medicinal products management.

The overall objective of this project was to compile information to the following topics:

• Ways of collection and disposal for household waste and unused/expired medicines;
• Legal requirements on collection and disposal of household waste and unused/expired medicines;
• Available schemes (voluntary, mandatory or being developed) for the collection and disposal of unused/expired medicines in Cyprus and potential take-back or collections schemes;
• Organisation and financing methods of take-back schemes;
• Reason for success and failure of take-back schemes;
• Stakeholders involved in the take-back schemes;
• Future policy initiatives and legislations relevant to waste disposal and the take back of medicinal products.