HB4888 - Pharmaceutical Recovery Act Summary

• Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to establish or participate in approved drug take-back programs by July 1, 2021, to collect and safely dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medications from consumers.

• Drug take-back programs must maintain minimum collection sites (3 per county plus 1 additional per 50,000 residents), accept drugs during normal business hours, and provide mail-back options or collection events in underserved areas.

• Manufacturers must pay all administrative and operational costs including collection supplies, transportation, disposal, authorized collector compensation, and public education; consumers cannot be charged point-of-sale or point-of-collection fees.

• Covered manufacturers and program operators must register annually with the Environmental Protection Agency and pay a $5,000 annual registration fee; violations carry civil penalties of $7,000 per violation.

• Amends Freedom of Information Act to exempt proprietary information submitted to the EPA under this Act from public disclosure.