vsd.gov.mt
vsd.gov.mt
There are two types of waste that are generated by the stakeholders involved in the veterinary medicinal products industry, namely that derived directly from veterinary medicinal products and that from its packaging stuff. That derived directly from veterinary medicinal product consists of unused, unsuitable or expired veterinary medicinal products such as capsules, powders and drops. In this section of the website this this type of waste will be described as ‘Veterinary Pharmaceutical Waste’ The other type of waste is the material derived from used packaging stuff and mainly consists of cardboard and plastic. This is usually classified as recyclable material as well.
Both the industry and private individuals may generate a quantity of veterinary pharmaceutical waste that may be hazardous to the environment and/or animal and human health if not disposed of according to the proper procedure.
For example, the improper disposal of antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products or animal products or by-products containing them may contribute to the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, systems have been put in place to avoid unsafe disposal.
The ‘One Health principle’ highlights the fact that animal health, human health and the environment are interrelated and cannot be separated. Anything that affects one will affect the other.
Any precautionary and safety measures or indication of potential risks, which are specified on the product from which the waste has been derived, must be taken in consideration.
Pharmaceutical waste can be sub-divided in three different types. Each type has to be disposed of in a different way.
Anyone can dispose of old, unused, unwanted, or expired veterinary medicinal products in specially designed wastebins found in all licensed veterinary pharmacies. The veterinary medicinal products that can be disposed in this way are loose or packaged tablets and capsules, bottled medicines and medicinal cream tubes. The Veterinary Services Directorate has made a Memorandum of Understanding with Wasterserv Malta Ltd to cover the cost of transport and destruction of this waste.
Before disposing, the outer packaging, package leaflets, and any plastic caps, cups or spoons should be removed. These should be disposed in the grey recycle bag.
Empty glass medicine bottles should be disposed in the glass bins.
The Scheme is not intended for industrial waste.
Old, unused, unwanted or expired veterinary medicinal products could also be disposed at Civic Waste Amenity Sites located in several parts of the Maltese islands. The waste producer should contact designated personnel from these sites for more information regarding the quantities that are allowed to be disposed of in these sites.
The pharmaceutical waste must go through a ‘Waste Acceptance Procedure’ and the waste producer has to contact the designated official responsible for it at the Wasterserv Malta Ltd Thermal Treatment Facility before the waste is taken to this facility.
Neither the Civic Waste Amenity Sites nor Wasterserv Malta Ltd have a facilities to accept cytotoxic waste. Therefore, such waste cannot be disposed of at these sites.
However, there are waste brokers which may be licensed to export this waste. Waste Producers should contact the Wasterserv Malta Ltd for further information.
Importers of goods have to recycle a certain percentage of packaging material in order to comply with the current legislation of L.N. 98 of 2004. It must be emphasised that contracted companies which offer this service might not necessarily be the same ones that are registered as waste brokers or waste carriers.