Wastewater Treatment vs. Medicine Supply Security

by name voted on 18.06.2026

Summary

This resolution examines the impact of new wastewater treatment rules on the availability and cost of medicines in the EU, calling for a pause on certain industry costs until further studies are conducted.

10 18.06.2026

Resolution

health

industry

environment

social policy

administrative law

public administration

Key points

The directive introduces a requirement for advanced quaternary treatment to remove micropollutants from urban wastewater.
The implementation of these advanced treatment requirements will be gradual, with full coverage expected by 2045.
Under the 'polluter pays' principle, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries must cover at least 80% of the costs for quaternary treatment.
There are serious concerns that these new costs could lead to medicine shortages and higher prices, especially for generic drugs.

Vote

PPE

S&D

PfE

ECR

Renew

Verts/ALE

The Left

NI

ESN

Total

Documents (PDFs)

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the urban wastewater treatment directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines

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