The Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA) has issued new guidelines for the disposal of date expired and damaged medicines to its members in order to prevent their circulation in the market and also the recycling. The industry body has put forward a three-tier plan to put an end to the menace of recycling.

The comprehensive guidelines asked the companies to intensify actions to destroy all online product rejects at the earliest. Also, companies have been asked to destroy all redundant packaging materials and intensify all security arrangements for all printed packaging components. The manufacturers companies also need to ensure that the field sales representatives return all the stocks of date expired samples for destruction to the manufacturing locations.

The guideline also suggested the management of the companies to designate an individual under whose supervision destruction will be done. The suitable standard operating procedures will be followed for all destruction. The manufacturing locations should check their records and instruct for the return of such stocks duly identified.