● On Europe Day, SIGRE reminds that millions of citizens already deposit every day expired or no longer needed medicines in the specific collection systems for this waste.
In Spain, three out of four households already recycle medicines through the SIGRE Points in pharmacies.
Today, Friday 9 May, is Europe Day, an event marked this year by the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the seed of today's European Union (EU).
This Declaration, which proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, promoted cooperation between countries as the basis for economic development. This principle has also been fundamental in tackling transboundary environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Transnational cooperation has also facilitated the creation of common regulations to protect the environment and the health of Europeans. One example is Directive 2004/27/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use, which states that 'Member States shall ensure that adequate systems are in place for the collection of unused or out-of-date medicinal products.
In this way, the EU recognises the importance of proper environmental management of waste medicines generated in households, which contributes not only to preventing the contamination of ecosystems, but also to eliminating the health risks posed by expired or leftover medicines.
Across Europe, millions of citizens every day deposit their expired or no longer needed medicines in the specific collection systems set up for this waste, thus ensuring their correct environmental treatment.
To raise awareness of how to dispose of medicines correctly, the #medsdisposal campaign has been launched, an initiative that provides information on the disposal systems currently in place in European countries.
In Spain, for 24 years, SIGRE has been the system that allows all citizens to dispose of this waste conveniently and safely through the SIGRE Point in pharmacies, achieving that the habit of recycling waste medicines and their packaging is fully implemented in three out of four Spanish households.
"SIGRE's work is possible thanks to the collaboration of citizens and the joint efforts of pharmaceutical companies, drug distributors and pharmacies. This May 9, Europe Day, reminds us how health and care for the environment unite us across borders", says Miguel Vega, SIGRE's CEO.