Nathalie Moll, Director General EFPIA, said: 

"The pharmaceutical industry is fully behind protecting Europe’s water and ensuring clean urban wastewater. We support the objectives of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which must include a polluter pays principle whereby all sectors and stakeholders that contribute micropollutants should fairly contribute to the cost of upgrading wastewater treatment facilities.

It is essential that such a system is built on reliable evidence and a fair attribution of responsibility. Recent statements by EurEau risk creating a misleading picture of the pharmaceutical sector’s contribution to micropollutants in wastewater as the data presented significantly overstate the industry’s share, leading to a grossly inflated figure which fails to reflect scientific reality."

EFPIA is clear that the research-based pharmaceutical industry does not seek exemption from contributing to the costs of improved wastewater treatment and will pay its fair share based on accurate data and sound methodology about the contributions of the sector. Placing an exaggerated share on the sector undermines both fairness and the effectiveness of the scheme. 

We echo the view of Cosmetics Europe, who emphasises that a workable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework can only be built on accurate data and a genuine application of the polluter pays principle.  

Nathalie Moll, said: "Improving Europe’s water quality is a shared responsibility. A legislative framework that recognises the real contributions of all sectors will deliver better outcomes for the environment, citizens and society as a whole."

Ends.

Notes to editors:

Read the Cosmetics Europe statement here.

An independent assessment commissioned by EFPIA indicates that toxic load is significantly lower than that indicated in the European Commission's impact assessment.