Sec.20-576a-3. Collection receptacles

(a) Collection receptacles shall be lockable, sturdy, and securely fixed within the authorized collector’s registered location, and shall have a one-way access point to allow ultimate users to deposit drugs.

(b) The collection receptacle shall have two locking mechanisms for access to the inner liner, and these locking mechanisms shall have different keys for operating the locks for simultaneous use by two different authorized employees. The one-way access point shall have a locking mechanism to prevent the acceptance of drugs when the pharmacy is closed or the inner liner is full. Locks shall be kept in good working order with keys removed therefrom. Keys to the locks shall not be left in a location accessible to anyone other than specifically authorized employees.

(c) If it is necessary to unlock the collection receptacle and view the contents of the rigid container in order to determine the drug fill level and avoid overfill, two authorized employees shall perform this check, at an interval determined by the authorized collector. One such authorized employee shall be a Connecticut licensed pharmacist. If the drug fill level of the rigid container has reached a point where overfill is imminent, the collection receptacle shall be locked to prevent ultimate users from depositing any drugs. The authorized collector shall commence disposal of the rigid container within forty-eight hours, pursuant to section 20-576a-5 of the Regulations of the Connecticut State Agencies. The date of the rigid container check, the names of the authorized employees performing the check and the approximate drug fill level of the rigid container shall be entered in the record log maintained by the authorized collector.

(d) The collection receptacle shall be located in the immediate proximity of a designated area where controlled substances are stored and at which an authorized employee is present and the collection receptacle is visible to such authorized employee.

(e) The collection receptacle shall accept drugs only when the authorized collector is open for business and an authorized employee is present.

(f) The collection receptacle shall be secured pursuant to section 20-576-18 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies when the pharmacy is closed.

(g) The outside of each collection receptacle shall prominently display a sign indicating: (1) the types of drugs permitted for deposit; (2) the prohibited items; and (3) that no drugs intended for return are to be left in the vicinity of the collection receptacle at any time.

(h) Waste or trash receptacles located in public areas shall not be within five feet of a collection receptacle.

(i) All of the collection receptacle access points and the sealing of inner liners shall be continuously monitored by video camera with a minimum of fourteen days of information storage. All stored video of the collection receptacle shall be made available upon request of the commissioner not later than forty-eight hours after such request. If an authorized collector is aware of a pending criminal, civil or administrative investigation or legal proceeding for which a recording may contain relevant information, the authorized collector shall retain an unaltered copy of the recording until the investigation or proceeding is closed or the person or entity conducting the investigation or proceeding notifies the authorized collector that it is not necessary to retain the recording.

(j) Requirements for minimum security and safeguard standards for collection receptacles may be determined for each authorized collector by the commissioner after consideration of the protection offered from an overall standpoint in instances wherein other security measures provided exceed those specifically stated. If the authorized collector has provided other safeguards that can be regarded as an adequate substitute for some element of protection required of such authorized collector, such added protection may be taken into account by the commissioner in evaluating overall required security measures. In cases where special hazards exist, such as extremely large stock, exposed handling, or unusual vulnerability to loss, theft, diversion, or robbery, additional safeguards shall be required by the commissioner.

(k) An authorized collector shall maintain collection receptacles to prevent theft and unauthorized access of the collection receptacle or inner liner.

(l) Any loss, theft, serious damage or destruction of a collection receptacle or its contents shall be reported by an authorized collector within seventy-two hours of any such occurrence to the director of the Drug Control Division.

(Effective July 8, 2019)