The original text of this document was prepared by Mr Tim Grayling, Lead Public Health Engineer (WHO Office for Humanitarian Assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina) as part of the Mostar Expired Pharmaceuticals Sorting Project. This project was coordinated by Dr Philip Rushbrook (WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Nancy Project Office, France^*) with assistance from Dr Giles-Bernard Forte, (Programme for Pharmaceuticals, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen) and Mr David Brigham (Pharmaciens Sans Frontières).

^* Now moved to WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome.

We would like to thank all Pharmaciens Sans Frontières (PSF) and WHO staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina involved in the Mostar Expired Pharmaceuticals Sorting Project, including but not limited to, Professor Claudi M. Cuchillo who provided valuable information on pharmaceutical matters. Thanks are due to staff in the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and to Dr Peter Parnell and Dr David Ambrose of AEA Technology (United Kingdom).

The following persons and organizations contributed to the further development of the guidelines and their advice and support are gratefully acknowledged:

K.O. Asante, (Churches' Action for Health, World Council of Churches, Switzerland), A. Battersby (FBA Health Systems Analysts, South Africa), A.D. Bhide (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, India), G.R. Boyd (Ministry of Health, New Zealand), J.Y. Cater (African Medical and Research Foundation, Kenya), M. Cone (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, Switzerland), S.A. Chuchu (National Quality Control Laboratory, Kenya), A.W. Davidson (International Pharmaceutical Federation, Netherlands), E. Dena (Community Initiatives Support Services International, Kenya), L. Diaz (CalRecovery Inc., USA/International Solid Waste Association, Denmark), R. Florés (WHO/EHA), D. Fosse (Pharmaciens Sans Frontières, Comité International), M. Giannoni (France), M. Henkens (Médecins Sans Frontières International, Belgium), J.H.A. Heuvelmans (Médecins Sans Frontières, Netherlands), L.T.A. Hui (Ministry of Health, Malaysia), P. Hurst (International Labour Organization, Switzerland), S. Kopp-Kubel (WHO/EDM), M. Limoli (Food and Drug Administration, USA), F. Mas (United Nations Children's Fund, Denmark), Médecins Sans Frontières (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland), W.C. Mfuko (Medical Stores Department, Tanzania), S. Muziki (WHO/EDM), K. Myhr (Board of Health,Norway), H. Ogawa (Western Pacific Regional Environmental Health Centre, Malaysia), P. Ollé (International Committee of the Red Cross, Switzerland), B. Olsen (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Switzerland), E.M.A. Ombaka (The Pharmaceutical Programme, Community Initiatives Support Services International, Kenya & World Council of Churches), T.L. Paál (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Information and Quality Assurance, Hungary), J. Parrot (International Pharmaceutical Federation, Netherlands), A.M. Prüss (WHO/EOS), M. Richardson (BASIC, UK), F. Rossi (Essential Drugs Programme, Bolivia), P. Saunders (Essential Drugs Project, UK), G.M. Savage (CalRecovery Inc., USA/International Solid Waste Association, Denmark), K. Schönbucher Seitz (Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland), B. Snell (Victorian Medical Postgraduate Foundation, Australia), P. Spivey (WHO/DAP), S. Srnec Pekas (Croatia), D. Subasic (Croatia), G. Szalay (WHO/SUP), N. van der Graaff (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy), A. Wodageneh (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy).

This document was finalized by:

First edition 1999