Pharmaceuticals in the environment: Commission defines actions to address risks and challenges

Pharmaceuticals in the environment: Commission defines actions to address risks and challenges

11/03/2019 - Consumer affairs and public health / Energy, environment and climate

The "Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment" that the Commission presents today, identifies six action areas concerning all stages of the pharmaceutical life cycle, where improvements can be made.

• Questions and answers
• Commission Communication on a Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
• Supporting study: Options for a strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment
• The European Commission has today adopted a Communication outlining a set of actions addressing the multifaceted challenges that the release of pharmaceuticals poses to the environment. The "Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment" that the Commission presents today, identifies six action areas concerning all stages of the pharmaceutical life cycle, where improvements can be made. The text addresses pharmaceuticals for human as well as for veterinary use. The areas cover all stages of the lifecycle of pharmaceuticals, from design and production to disposal and waste management, in line with the principles of the staff working document of the Commission on Sustainable Products in a Circular Economy. The six areas identified include actions to raise awareness and promote prudent use, improve training and risk assessment, gather monitoring data, incentivise “green design”, reduce emissions from manufacturing, reduce waste and improve wastewater treatment. (...)