THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH TANZANIA MEDICINES AND MEDICAL DEVICES AUTHORITY

ISO 9001: 2015: CERTIFIED

PRESS RELEASE

20^th April, 2026

DISPOSAL OF EXPIRED AND UNFIT MEDICAL PRODUCTS

1. The Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) is an Executive Agency under the Ministry of Health, responsible for regulating the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines, medical devices, and diagnostics in accordance with the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Act, Cap. 219.
2. TMDA has noted with concern the existence of unscrupulous distributors and sellers engaged in the clandestine relabelling and repackaging of expired or unfit-for-use medical products. These dishonest traders alter manufacturing and expiry dates before returning the products back to the market - an act that contravenes with section 13(1) of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices (Recall, Handling and Disposal of Unfit Medicines) Regulations, 2015, together with section 25(1) of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices (Good Storage and Distribution Practices) Regulations, 2021.
3. Pursuant to section 25(5) of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices (Good Storage and Distribution Practices) Regulations, 2021, all expired or unfit-for-use medical products must be reported to TMDA and disposed of within 90 days from the date of expiry.
4. TMDA directs all distributors and healthcare providers to ensure that they make all necessary arrangements to dispose of all unfit-for-use medical products stored in their premises not later than 31^st of May, 2026.
5. After this deadline, TMDA will conduct spot-on inspections to verify compliance to these directives. Legal proceedings including revocation of business permits will be enforced for any company or institution that would be caught storing unfit-for-use medical products, or keeping them for more than 90 days post-expiry.
6. Similarly, distributors who instruct their clients, including retailers, to return products approaching expiry dates are directed to stop this malpractice indefinitely. Alternatively, such products must be segregated, safely stored, notified to TMDA, and disposed of within three (3) months pursuant to section 14(1) of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices (Recall, Handling and Disposal of Unfit Medicines) Regulations, 2015.
7. All distributors and healthcare providers are reminded to strictly adhere to the existing legal requirements specifically on the handling of unfit-for-use medical products.
8. Finally, TMDA urges the general public to report any company or individual involved in the distribution of unfit-for-use or expired medical products. Reports can be channelled to TMDA offices in Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Ruvuma, Tabora, and Geita, or via email at info@tmda.go.tz, or by calling the Toll-Free No. 0800110084 upon identifying any malpractices or violations.
9. Together – lets promote and protect public health for our own well-being.

Issued by:
Director General,
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA),
Plot Na. 56/1, Block E, Kisasa B Centre, Hombolo Road,
P.O. Box 1253, Dodoma or
P.O.Box 77150, Dar es Salaam
P.O. Box 1253, Dodoma
Telephone: +255 222 450512/658 445222/777 700002
Fax: +255 22 2450793
Email Address: info@tmda.go.tz
Hotline: 0800110084