Dispensaries have several legal responsibilities when disposing of controlled drugs, all aimed at ensuring regulatory compliance and preventing misuse. Below are the key obligations:
Legal Obligations for CD Disposal
Denaturing: Controlled drugs must be denatured before disposal to render them irretrievable. This step ensures the drugs cannot be reused, recovered, or misused.
Witnessing: The destruction of Schedule 2 controlled drugs must be witnessed by an authorised person, as required under Regulation 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. (This does not apply to CDs that have already been dispensed and returned). View the Regulation here.
A witness could be;
- A person appointed by NHS England (e.g. a CDAccountable Officer representative)
- A police officer or inspector from the Care Quality Commission (CQC)Other CDs (Schedules 3–5)
do not require witnessing, but must still be denatured and recorded.
Record Keeping: Detailed records must be maintained, including:
o Drug name, strength, and form
o Quantity destroyed
o Date of destruction
o Signatures of both the person destroying the drug and the witness
How to Denature Controlled Drugs
Denaturing is a critical step in the disposal process. Here’s how dispensaries typically carry out this process:
Use of Denaturing Kits: The most effective and widely recommended method is to use pre-packaged
denaturing kits. Dispex offers a range of kits in various sizes tailored to different disposal needs. Member
pricing applies.
Standard Denaturing Procedure:
1. Preparation: Identify and gather the CDs requiring disposal and select the appropriate size denaturing kit.
2. Add Drugs to Kit: Place the CDs into the kit, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Add Water (if required): Some kits may require the addition of water to activate the denaturing
agent-follow specific product instructions.
4. Seal and Shake: Securely seal the kit and shake it to ensure complete mixing of the drugs with the agent.
5. Leave to Set: Allow the mixture to sit for the recommended time to ensure full denaturing.
Documentation: Record all relevant information, including:
- Date of denaturing
- Drugs involved
- Signatures of the person responsible and any witnesses
Final Disposal: Once fully denatured, dispose of the kit in accordance with local waste disposal regulations.
Why Use Denaturing Kits via Dispex?
Dispex supplied denaturing kits offer several practical benefits for the safe disposal of CDs:
Regulatory Compliance: Kits meet the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, eliminating the
need for a waste processing licence.
Convenience: Available in multiple sizes (250ml, 1L, and 2L jars) allowing flexibility to match your disposal volume.
Safety: Kits safely render CDs irretrievable, reducing risks of diversion or accidental exposure.
Cost-Effective: For Dispex members, prices start at £9.28 + VAT, offering an affordable solution for compliant CD disposal.
For further guidance, training resources and to purchase denaturing kits, please click here.
