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San Francisco Close to Implementing Drug Take-Back Program

Article

San Francisco has taken a big step toward becoming the first major US city to require drug makers to fund and administer a citywide take-back program in which consumers can bring unused and unexpired medicines to drop-off destinations for disposal.

San Francisco has taken a big step toward becoming the first major US city to require drug makers to fund and administer a citywide take-back program in which consumers can bring unused and unexpired medicines to drop-off destinations for disposal. An ordinance was approved unanimously last week by the city’s Board of Supervisors and now awaits the signature of Mayor Edwin Lee, who has until Friday to sign the bill or it automatically becomes law.

The bill mimics a groundbreaking law passed 3 years ago by Alameda County, California, to establish a program over the protests of the pharmaceutical industry. Since then, drug makers have been concerned that other local governments will be emboldened to pass similar laws, raising their costs around the country.

Read more at The Wall Street Journal's Pharmalot blog: http://on.wsj.com/1BrZVV5

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