Measure Forces Certain Companies To Pay For Disposal
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Vice President of Alliance
Development and State Government Relations Fritz Bittenbender issued the
following statement today regarding Alameda County, California's new
ordinance requiring drug makers to set up programs to dispose of expired
and unused drugs:
"BIO supports effective efforts to protect patients, safeguard water
resources, and address potential abuses associated with unused
medications. The ordinance passed this week in Northern California's
Alameda County, while well intended, will have little impact on any of
these concerns.
There is no scientific consensus that drug take-back programs help the
environment or reduce instances of prescription drug abuse. In fact,
segregating unused prescription drugs from conventional solid waste may
serve to increase illegal drug trafficking.
Ultimately, this measure will simply increase costs, and potentially
limit patient access to certain life-saving therapies."
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations
across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members
are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare,
agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO
also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest
gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading
investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW,
an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling "innovations
transforming our world." Subscribe
to BIOtechNOW.
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BIO
India International Conference
September 12 ? 13, 2012
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