Regulations on green pharmacy in european countries – A comparative study

Abstract

Green pharmacy is a policy of protecting the environment from the risk of contamination with medicines. The aim of the paper was to compare relevant regulations from European countries in order to find solutions for such a policy in Romania. Official texts from five countries were analysed using methods of legal interpretation and the comparative method. Each country has specific regulations, but the responsibility of each stakeholder is different, from regulating, to collecting or funding. In Finland, expired medicines are collected by pharmacies and municipalities, which fund their disposal. In France, Spain and Hungary, expired medicines are collected by pharmacies, but the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for managing and funding the waste disposal. In Romania, only pharmacies and drugstores are responsible for collecting and disposing expired medicines from patients. Regulations on sharing the responsibility among all types of pharmaceutical enterprises are needed in order to develop a green pharmacy policy in Romania.