Guidance

Denaturing controlled drugs that have become waste: RPS 4

Published 25 January 2021

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/denaturing-controlled-drugs-that-have-become-waste-rps-4/denaturing-controlled-drugs-that-have-become-waste-rps-4

A person who is authorised under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations can store, sort and denature (alter the qualities of) controlled drugs at the place they became waste under T28 waste exemption: sort and denature controlled drugs for disposal.

However, T28 does not allow you to store, sort and denature waste controlled drugs:

  • returned by patients or healthcare workers to a pharmacy or medical practice
  • brought together at collection points or denaturing sessions
  • in patients’ homes

If you comply with the conditions in this regulatory position statement (RPS), you can store, sort and denature waste controlled drugs that have become waste, at another place.

When this RPS applies

This RPS only applies to waste codes:

  • 18 01 09: medicines from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans
  • 18 02 08: medicines from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals
  • 20 01 32: medicines separately collected as household waste

This RPS does not apply to any other activity, even if it is under the same legislation. You may still need other permits or licences for other activities you carry out.

Conditions you must comply with

You must:

Your waste operation must not endanger human health or the environment. You must not:

  • cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
  • cause a nuisance through noise or odours
  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

Enforcement

A RPS means that the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS
  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS
  • your activity does not, and is not likely to, cause environmental pollution or harm human health

When to check back

This RPS will be reviewed by 31 January 2024. You will need to check back then to see if it still applies or if you need to apply for a permit.

Contact the Environment Agency

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

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