Navigation

Strategic Approach To Pharmaceuticals In The Environment

The European Commission has adopted last march the Communication "Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment" outlining a set of actions addressing the multifaceted challenges that the release of pharmaceuticals poses to the environment.

The European Commission has adopted last march the Communication "Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment" outlining a set of actions addressing the multifaceted challenges that the release of pharmaceuticals poses to the environment.

The Communication 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.