SK bioscience is in a legal battle with administrative authorities over the disposal of waste generated in the vaccine manufacturing process. After receiving an administrative action from the local government for poorly managing the waste, SK bioscience filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel the measure.
On the 30th, according to legal sources in the bio and legal sectors, the Daegu District Court's Administrative Division 2 is hearing a suit by SK bioscience to cancel an order issued by the Andong mayor regarding waste disposal measures. The first hearing in the case was held in January this year, and the second is scheduled for Apr. 23.
The case dates back to last summer. SK bioscience operates L House in Andong, North Gyeongsang. It is a plant that produces vaccines such as for pneumococcus and influenza. The Daegu Regional Environmental Office conducted an on-site inspection at L House last summer and found that waste generated during the vaccine manufacturing process was poorly managed.
Under the Waste Management Act, medical waste must be refrigerated at 4 degrees Celsius or lower. SK bioscience was found to have failed to comply with this in the process of storing some of the waste. The temperature was reportedly higher than required by law. The Daegu Regional Environmental Office sent an official notice conveying these findings, and Andong City Hall issued an administrative order directing the company to maintain an appropriate temperature.
However, in Oct. of that year, SK bioscience filed an administrative suit against the Andong mayor seeking to cancel the order. Under the Waste Management Act, institutions that generate medical waste include medical institutions, animal hospitals, and testing and research institutions of the state, local governments, and universities. SK bioscience argued that it did not fall under these categories.
SK bioscience is said to be arguing in the lawsuit that vaccine manufacturing waste should be classified as general waste generated at business sites rather than as medical waste. A legal source said, "There is room for interpretation," adding, "Because the administrative action could affect the corporations' image, the company appears to have gone to court."
A SK bioscience official said, "We complied with the temperature order after the on-site inspection," adding, "The aim is to use the lawsuit to establish specific standards on how far to manage the waste generated during vaccine manufacturing." Andong City Hall declined to comment, saying, "The case is pending."