News and Updates Archive

Revised Stewardship Plan Submitted for Review and Approval
December 15, 2015 – King County MED-Project LLC submitted a revised proposed stewardship plan for review in accordance with the December 14, 2015 compliance deadline.  Proposed stewardship plan will be reviewed within ninety days of receipt and approved or rejected y March 12, 2016.  Update: Notification of plan approval status is March 18, 2016.  Learn more…

Invitation to Comment on Revised Stewardship Plan
January 27, 2016 – A revised plan submitted by King County MED-Project LLC is currently under review. Written comments on the revised plan are being accepted during the public comment period of January 28–February 5, 2016.  Comments can be submitted through the Secure Medicine Return website or by email. View information on how to submit comments

Stewardship Plan Review and Approval
October 19, 2015 –  Evaluation of revised proposed stewardship plans submitted for review is complete.  ReturnMeds LLC received  plan approval status as  “plan approved” with the designation as the standard plan. King County MED-Project LLC received plan approval status as “plan rejected” with eligibility to submit an additional revised plan. Learn more…

Invitation to Comment on Proposed Stewardship Plan
September 8, 2015
–  Written comments are accepted during the public comment period of September 8 – September 15, 2015 using the Secure Medicine Return website or by email.  View information on how to submit comments

Stewardship organizations submit revised plans for review
July 28, 2015 – King County MED-Project, LLC and ReturnMeds, LLC submitted revised stewardship plans for review by the July 13, 2015 deadline.  Proposed stewardship plans will be reviewed within ninety days of receipt and approved or rejected by October 13, 2015.  Learn more…

Status of Stewardship Plan Review and Approval
May 20, 2015 –  Evaluation of proposed stewardship plans submitted for review is complete.  Approval status for each plan is “plan rejected”.  Compliance deadline to submit a revised stewardship plan for review is
July 13, 2015.  Learn more… 

Stewardship Organizations Submit Proposed Stewardship Plan
February 17, 2015 – Two stewardship organizations submitted proposed stewardship plans for review in accordance with the February 12, 2015 compliance deadline.  Proposed plans will be reviewed within ninety days of receipt and approved or rejected by May 13, 2015.

View proposed stewardship plans

View summary overview of requirements for plan review and approval

Invitation to Comment on Proposed Stewardship Plan
February 17, 2015 –  Written comments are accepted during the public comment period of February 18-March 19, 2015 using the Secure Medicine Return website or by email.  View information on how to submit comments

Drug Producers Participating in a Stewardship Plan
January 8, 2015 – A list of participating drug producers who have identified their stewardship plan operator is available on our website. Please let us know if you would like to be added to the list, or if you have provided the required information and do not find your company listed.  View the list.

Next Implementation Deadline – November 14, 2014
November 4, 2014 – Notification letters have been sent to drug producers notifying them of the requirements under the regulations (BOH Section 11.50.040.D.1 and 2.).  This deadline is for producers to (a) identify in writing a stewardship plan operator, including contact information, and (b) notify all retail pharmacies and law enforcement agencies in King County of the opportunity to participate as a drop-off site and process to form an agreement with the stewardship plan. View notification letter

Interested Stewardship Organizations
October 27, 2014 – Organizations who have expressed interest in participating in the role of Product Stewardship Organization are available.  The list of interested organizations is being provided as a convenience for the purpose of awareness and will be updated regularly.   Contact information for interested organizations

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision
September 30, 2014 – Decision by the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was issued today, upholding Alameda County’s Safe Drug Disposal ordinance. Now that the Ninth Circuit decision has been issued, there is a change in King County’s extended implementation deadlines.  Learn more about King County’s deadlines.

DEA Published Final Rule
September 9, 2014 – DEA published final rule expanding collection of controlled substances. Effective date: October 9, 2014. Learn more about DEA’s final rule.

Fee Schedule  Adopted
May 15, 2014King County Board of Health adopts rule and regulation for fees pertaining to secure medicine return regulations.  Learn more about the adopted fee schedule

Compliance Deadlines
The March 20, 2014 and June 20, 2014 deadlines related to implementation of the stewardship plans have been extended. Learn more about the extension

Updated March 8, 2016