France extends medication shelf life project

The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) in France has launched a five-year project titled Long Life for Medications to extend the shelf life of certain pharmaceutical products, aiming to reduce waste and environmental impact.

Identified medications for extension

As of the end of August 2026, 73 medications have been identified as candidates for extended shelf life, with 47 of them potentially eligible for a shelf life of 4 years or more. Fourteen laboratories have indicated their intention to submit requests for modification of the marketing authorization (AMM) for at least one of their medications within the next five years.

Current shelf life and waste

Currently, the majority of medications authorized in France have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years, while less than 10% can be stored up to 5 years. These relatively short durations contribute to significant pharmaceutical waste, with 8,289 tons of unused medications returned to pharmacies in France in 2025, which were subsequently collected by the eco-organization Cyclamed for incineration and valorization.

Impact of the project

The project aims to improve the availability of medications and address shortages while reducing waste. Valérie Salomon, director of scientific affairs at the ANSM, emphasized that the initiative is based on the results of the Perimed study, which analyzed 32,840 units collected in the boxes of Cyclamed, highlighting that frequently found specialties often have short shelf lives.

Examples of extended shelf life

Among the medications identified for potential shelf life extension are commonly used treatments based on paracetamol, levothyroxine, melatonin, or lithium. For example, some medications based on diclofenac or baclofen could be stored for 5 years, compared to 3 years currently, while others based on morphine or paracetamol could extend their shelf life from 3 to 4 years.

Requirements for laboratories

The participating laboratories are required to identify pharmaceutical specialties for which an increase in shelf life is scientifically feasible, submit requests for modification of AMM within five years, and provide annual reports on the reduction in pharmaceutical waste, logistics constraints, and carbon emissions avoided. In return, the ANSM offers scientific and regulatory support through the Innovation and Orientation Desk (GIO) and potential recognition within the framework of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Other waste reduction efforts

Other avenues are being explored to reduce pharmaceutical waste, including appropriate packaging, eco-design of packaging, and the redistribution of unused medications. At the European level, efforts are underway to adapt packaging to dosages and promote eco-design.

Redistribution of unused medications

In France, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) and the Health Insurance Fund are considering an experiment to redistribute certain unused anticancer medications to hospitals, starting in early 2027. This initiative is limited to expensive medications with frequent treatment interruptions, generating significant volumes of unused medications.