The Safe Drug Disposal Stewardship Ordinance establishes requirements for companies that produce (i.e., manufacture) and/or wholesale Covered Drugs that are sold in San Francisco for resident's use at home. A company may have more than one role under the Ordinance, depending on its business activities.
The following sections detail Ordinance requirements by business activity:
Requirements for Producers
Stewardship Plan Participation
Section 2203 of the Ordinance requires any Producer, defined as a company that manufacturers a Covered Drug that is sold in or into San Francisco for resident's use at home, to participate in an approved Stewardship Plan (Plan). Producers can meet the participation requirement by operating a Plan individually, operating a Plan jointly with other Producers, or participating in an approved Plan that is operated by a Stewardship Organization on Producers' behalf.
The Environment Department (Department) has approved two Stewardship Organizations to operate Plans in San Francisco on a Producer's behalf:
Within six months of starting sale of a Covered Drug in San Francisco, the Producer of that Covered Drug must notify the Department of its intent to participate in an approved Plan or its intent to form a new Plan. A Stewardship Organization may notify the Department of a Producer's participation in an approved Plan on that Producer's behalf.
Changing Stewardship Plan Participation
After one full year of participation in an approved Plan, a Producer may change to a different approved Plan or form a new Plan under Section 2203(g) of the Ordinance. A Producer must notify the Department of its intent to change Plans by submitting a signed Notice of Plan Operator Change (PDF) to SafeMeds@sfgov.org. Producers must participate in an approved Plan at all times.
Ordinance Fee Schedule
Section 2215 of the Ordinance authorizes the Department to charge Producers fees to recover the Department's costs of administering and enforcing the Ordinance. There are two types of fees authorized: an Annual Operating Fee and a Plan Review Fee. A Stewardship Organization may remit the fees on behalf of the Producers participating in its Plan.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment approved a revised Annual Operating Fee and a revised hourly Plan Review Fee at its June 10, 2020, meeting.
- Revised Fee Schedule (PDF) - effective July 1, 2020
Please contact the Department at SafeMeds@sfgov.org or 415-355-3705 for more information on how to meet the Ordinance requirements.
Requirements for Wholesalers
Section 2210 of the Ordinance requires any Drug Wholesaler that sells Covered Drugs in or into San Francisco to submit a list of the Producers (i.e., manufacturers) of those Covered Drugs. Effective May 21, 2023, Drug Wholesalers are required to submit lists of Producers only following a request by the Department. Annual submissions are no longer required.
Submission Instructions:
- Download the Wholesaler Submittal Template (Excel)
- Populate the spreadsheet with the required information for each Producer of Covered Drugs that your company sells or distributes in or into San Francisco
- Submit the file by email to SafeMeds@sfgov.org
Please contact the Department at SafeMeds@sfgov.org or 415-355-3700 for more information on how to meet the Ordinance requirements.
Additional Resources
How to Safely Get Rid of Unwanted Medicine (Residents)
Safe Drug Disposal Stewardship Ordinance Implementation
Safe Drug Disposal Stewardship Ordinance (PDF)
Terms Defined in the Ordinance (PDF)
Ordinance Factsheet (PDF)
Safe Medicine Disposal Policy - Information and Resources