Unused medicines (MNU)
Required for medicines for human use placed on the French market, financing the Cyclamed pharmacy take-back scheme.
A France-established representative is now compulsory for medicines.
A written mandate under Article L. 541-10-9-1 of the French Environmental Code, created by Law No. 2026-602 of 8 July 2026. Since 10 July 2026, any producer not established in France and subject to EPR must appoint a representative established in France, for every stream. For packaging, Article 45 of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) adds the same requirement at EU level.
The test is establishment in France, not nationality, so a producer based elsewhere in the European Union is covered on the same terms as one based outside it.
You remain the producer. Under the written mandate required by Article L. 541-10-9-1 of the French Environmental Code, we take charge of and answer for your registration, your identifier, your declarations, the exchanges with the eco-organisation and audits, and the archiving of your files. Your eco-contributions stay invoiced to you and paid by you directly to the eco-organisation. Read the full breakdown of the statute, including what to do if you already hold a Cyclamed membership with no representative on the file.
A fixed annual fee, stated in writing before you commit.
Per stream, for producers under the eco-organism flat-fee regime. Your exact fee is stated in the written quote.
The quote states the fixed annual fee for medicines, the one-time setup for the stream and the refundable security deposit. For the calendar year it covers, the number you sign is the number you pay.
Cyclamed set your eco-contributions at their published barème rates. Your eco-contributions stay invoiced to you and paid by you directly to the eco-organisation. We take no percentage on them: we prepare and file the declarations that drive them, and help you optimise them.
Your annual fee is a fixed amount per stream and per calendar year, independent of your eco-contributions. It depends on the declaration regime and frequency, the number of references and, above EUR 1,000 of eco-contribution per stream, its size. It is fixed in writing for the year and can only change for the following year, notified in writing by 15 September, or during the year if your scope changes, for example a new stream or a change of declaration regime.
What medicines costs at the eco-organism in 2026.
These are the Cyclamed eco-contributions (per box), set on the eco-organism's published barème and separate from our mandataire fee. Indicative highlights from the official 2026 barème.
Governing text: arrêté of 29 October 2021 (MNU). We file the declarations that determine this eco-contribution. It stays separate from our fee, we take no percentage on it, and we help you optimise it.
Source: Cyclamed 2026 barème. Figures excl. VAT, indicative; see the official barème for the full grid.
How this stream works in France.
The MNU stream (médicaments non utilisés) covers medicines for human use placed on the French market. Cyclamed is the sole approved eco-organism, running the long-established pharmacy take-back scheme for unused and expired medicines. The 2026 contribution is a very low per-box amount (about €0.0045 per box). Cahier des charges: arrêté of 29 October 2021. Pharmaceutical laboratories and importers are in scope.
Cyclamed, the eco-organisation of this stream.
Cyclamed organises the return of leftover household medicines to pharmacies, which pass them on for secure destruction with energy recovery, keeping medicines out of household bins and the water cycle. Producers of medicines adhere, declare the volumes they place on the French market, and pay an eco-contribution funding the scheme.
Joining Cyclamed from abroadWe act as your French authorized representative for medicines.
Designation
We take charge of your membership with Cyclamed; we confirm availability with your quote.
IDU obtained
Your unique identifier (IDU) is issued once the membership is in place, on the eco-organisation’s own timing.
Declarations
Most streams are declared once a year. Exceptions: Ecomaison declares quarterly by default (annual on option below 15 t, 1,000 pieces and EUR 2 million of turnover in the stream), Valdelia quarterly, Ecominéro monthly, and Ecosystem electrical equipment quarterly unless contributions are paid by SEPA direct debit. We file with the eco-organisation.
Liaison
The exchanges with the eco-organisation and its audits: we handle them and keep your files archived.
Get registered for medicines.
We currently register clients with Citeo, Léko and Léko Pro, Ecosystem (electrical equipment, lamps, batteries), Twiice, Refashion, Ecomaison and Valobat. For the other approved eco-organisations, we confirm availability with your quote.
Household packaging
Required for any product sold to French consumers in packaging (boxes, polybags, fillers, bottles, jars).
EcosystemElectrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Required for any product with a plug, battery, cable or electronic component sold to French consumers.
RefashionTextile, household linen and footwear (TLC)
Required for any apparel, linen or footwear product shipped to French consumers.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is liable for the Unused medicines (MNU) stream?
- The first company placing these products on the French market, with no revenue or volume threshold. Any pharmaceutical producer or importer without a French establishment placing medicines for human use on the French market. A producer with no French establishment must appoint a representative established in France, compulsory since 10 July 2026.
- Which products fall under the Unused medicines (MNU) stream?
- For example: prescription and OTC medicines in boxes; human-use pharmaceutical specialities; imported branded and generic drugs. Required for medicines for human use placed on the French market, financing the Cyclamed pharmacy take-back scheme.
- Which eco-organism covers Unused medicines (MNU)?
- Cyclamed is state-accredited for this stream. Joining it satisfies the obligation; it varies on the published schedule and the declaration format, not on the legal cover.
- How often is the Unused medicines (MNU) stream declared?
- This stream is declared once a year.
- What does the Unused medicines (MNU) stream cost?
- The eco-contribution follows the eco-organism's published schedule and depends on the volumes you declare, so it is specific to your catalogue. Our fee is separate: a published entry price of EUR 190 per year excluding VAT per stream, with the exact figure fixed in a written quote within one business day.