EU law
Wastewater: Pharmaceutical companies in the EU have to support cleaning
Micropollutants get into the water through medications or make-up. In the EU, manufacturing companies will have to bear significant costs in the future. Pharmaceutical associations warn of more drug shortages.
In the future, pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies will have to play a major role in wastewater treatment in the European Union. The EU countries previously agreed to rules negotiated with negotiators from the EU Parliament, according to which manufacturers will in future have to bear at least 80 percent of the additional costs for in-depth cleaning. Micropollutants enter wastewater through medicines and cosmetic products.
In addition, according to the new rules, wastewater will in future also be strictly monitored for antibiotic-resistant pathogens, viruses or microplastics. EU countries will also be required to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all municipal wastewater treatment plants where appropriate – particularly in water-stressed areas. The approval of the EU countries was the last necessary step in the legislative process. The rules will now be published in the EU Official Journal and will then come into force.
Associations with different opinions
The Association of Municipal Companies (VKU) described the new directive as a “necessary step” to protect water bodies in the long term. With the newly introduced participation of the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry in the costs of wastewater treatment, wastewater customers will no longer be left alone with the implementation costs, said Managing Director Ingbert Liebing. “Now that the requirements from Brussels are clear, we now need clarity through rapid and practical implementation into national law.”
The Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW) spoke of an “environmental-economic milestone”. This means that a polluter pays principle is legally implemented, said Martin Weyand, Managing Director of Water and Wastewater at BDEW. “Incentives are created to reduce pollutants at the source and to develop environmentally friendly raw materials and products.”
The Chemical Industry Association (VCI), on the other hand, described the new directive as “completely misguided EU legislation” and warned that individual products could become more expensive or that some systemically important medicines could disappear from the market completely. The association expects that participation in cleaning will cost the German pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry around two to three billion euros annually. There are also bureaucratic costs for collecting the levy.
The pharmaceutical industry warns of increased drug shortages
The Pro Generika association warned of billions in costs, which could lead to increased drug shortages in Germany, for example for cancer drugs, diabetes medications or antibiotics. It is completely undisputed that sewage treatment plants need to be expanded in order to filter trace substances from the wastewater. “It is incomprehensible, however, why only two sectors are being prosecuted, even though the contaminants to be removed also come from other areas – for example from pesticides or cleaning products or from traffic.” Since drug prices cannot be increased within the reimbursement system in Germany, the production of drugs threatens to become uneconomical.
dpa
Source: Stern
