The Pharma and Cosmetics Industry Struggles to Comply with EU’s Urban Waster Treatment Directive
The pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries have published demanding content against the European Union’s directive to fund 80% of urban wastewater treatment, requiring companies to adhere to the polluter pays principle. This industry’s perspective is half-hearted, with critics arguing that even the highest-profile medicines are beyond affordable reach.
The EU’s directive, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, puts a significant financial burden on these sectors, citing data indicating that more than 90% of the mgmt of effluent from wastewater treatment plants originate from pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. President Hans Goossens of Water Europe emphasized the critical role of the polluter pays principle, suggesting that being paid 80% is "fair." However, this proportion is much higher than what other industries like pharmaceuticals are expected to pay, creating inequality.
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), led byNF Moll, argues that the industry must share responsibility equitably. They stress that promoting sustainable practices and ensuring all actors are incentivized to advance this goal is a priority. However, they acknowledge that educators and other players have difficulty obtaining proper data.
With only 16 submissions to the EU court, players including Accord Healthcare France, Dermapharm, efpi, Adamed Pharma, Hexal, and Cosmetics Europe are intensifying their efforts. Poland, among other countries, also referenced the matter to its judiciary.
The EU Commission’s response cautious but deliberate, reassuring that the directive won’t disproportionately affect pharmaceutical businesses. They highlighted that long-term plans within its impact assessment show manageable and non-disproportional effects.
At the heart of all this controversy lies the high costs ofmetics, where even the most affordable drugs like metformin might rise by up to 900%, and antibiotics like amoxicillin by 350%—critics claiming these increases should only occur when medicines become more accessible.
Despite the EU’s allowance of dialysis patients, the situation has become increasingly arduous for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, with Critics advocating for more transparent and proportional responsibility.
From a French pharmaceutical company perspective. The industry has presented a bold attack against the directive, triumphing on its merits.
photograph courtesy of efpi
