Oregon is soon to become the fourth state to pass a pharmaceutical stewardship bill, creating a comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility drug take-back system. Several other states have more limited stewardship laws in place.
Oregon’s bill was modeled on neighboring Washington State’s Secure Drug Take-Back Act of 2018, and requires pharmaceutical manufacturers operating in the state to fund and implement a network of secure drop-boxes, a statewide prepaid mail-back system, and a network of collection facilities including pharmacies and hospitals, among other responsibilities. The bill passed resoundingly in both chambers, 56-3 in the House and 27-2 in the Senate, and is expected to be signed soon by Governor Kate Brown.
Passage was achieved with support from a number of statewide organizations, including Oregon DEQ, and with participation from drug manufacturers hoping to prevent a patchwork of local take-back laws that were under consideration.
