Thursday, June 5, 2025

European Commission initiates review of extended producer responsibility under Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

In line with its newly introduced Water Resilience Strategy, the European Commission has announced a review of the costs and impacts stemming from the extended producer responsibility embedded in the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) – a regulation particularly relevant for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors.

Pharma Germany has welcomed the decision, calling it a critical first step toward a more balanced and evidence-based policy framework. “Our concerns about the directive have finally been acknowledged by the Commission,” said Jörg Wieczorek, Chairman of Pharma Germany.

The Commission's move follows growing criticism of the initial impact assessment, which Pharma Germany and others have argued is based on flawed data and assumptions. A second study by consulting firm Ramboll has since substantiated these concerns, reinforcing calls for a more rigorous evaluation process.

Earlier this May, the European Parliament had issued a formal request, urging the Commission to reassess the directive in light of conflicting data on the affordability and availability of human medicines. The Parliament's initiative added political weight to the industry's concerns.

Wieczorek emphasized that supply security for essential medicines must be a top priority in the upcoming review. “We expect the new study to confirm the directive’s shortcomings and to initiate a more credible, data-driven reassessment,” he said.

Given the urgency, Pharma Germany is calling on the Commission to act swiftly: “Time is running out to mitigate the serious consequences of the current regulation. The study must be delivered quickly, and the directive must be adjusted accordingly.”