Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2939
Sponsor: Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-28]
Introduced: 2011-09-15 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Federally chartered organizations
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research administration and funding
User charges and fees
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: 
Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act of 2011 - Establishes the National Pharmaceutical Stewardship Organization as a nonprofit private corporation whose board of directors shall be appointed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Requires the Organization to begin implementation of a certified national pharmaceutical stewardship program within two years. 
 
Requires each manufacturer and brand owner of a drug marketed in the United States to participate in such program or another certified national pharmaceutical stewardship program. 
 
Establishes requirements for program certification, including requirements to: (1) provide a system to facilitate the collection and disposal of any drug that is a household waste, as defined under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, that is delivered to the program by an individual in the United States; and (2) collect and dispose of drugs in a manner that is safe and secure, that results in incineration of the drug in accordance with the hazardous waste incineration requirements under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, that protects patient information, and that is accessible and, in the case of a controlled substance, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act. Prohibits programs from imposing fees on individuals for delivery or disposal of a drug.
 
Establishes a program certification process, including requiring the Administrator to consult with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the adequacy of the proposed program's security measures for collection, transportation, and disposal of drugs, disposal systems, and mechanisms for secure tracking and handling. Authorizes the Administrator to suspend certification of a program if necessary to protect the public from imminent danger.
 
Requires the Director of National Drug Control Policy to establish a campaign to increase public awareness of how drugs may be lawfully disposed consistent with public safety, public health, and environmental protection.
 
Requires the Administrator to establish an interagency commission, to be known as the Commission on Drug Disposal and its Public Safety, Public Health, and Environmental Impacts, to develop a strategy to: (1) prevent the entry of drugs into the nation's water supply and environment consistent with current public safety standards, and (2) protect public health and promote public safety by reducing diversion and the risk of abuse and accidental overdose. 
 Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to report on drugs and drug byproducts in surface water and groundwater in the United States within a year.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1639-1640)
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Introduced in House