Resolution on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines

The European Parliament adopted by 294 votes to 245, with 28 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA and the Left groups.

Firstly, Parliament reiterated its strong support for the environmental objectives and the implementation of the revised UWWTD in accordance with the deadlines set, and underlined the need to:

- reduce and address water pollution, including micropollutants;

- better protect human health and the environment as part of an ambitious approach to tackling pollution from all sources and to move towards a toxic free environment, notably including the need to tackle hazardous micropollutants,

which pose a substantial and acute threat to health and the environment.

Polluter pays principle

The introduction of quaternary treatment is necessary to protect health, safeguard ecosystems and combat emerging risks such as AMR. Therefore, Parliament underlined that extended producer responsibility (EPR) is the most effective tool for implementing the polluter pays principle and for ensuring sufficient funds for the necessary treatment of urban wastewater.

Members recalled that environmental policy should be based on the precautionary principle and on the principles that preventive action should be taken, that environmental damage should, as a priority, be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay.

Furthermore, Parliament stressed that the costs associated with advanced wastewater treatment should not be shifted onto taxpayers and water consumers, but should be borne in a fair and proportionate manner by those sectors contributing to water pollution.

New impact assessment

The Commission is called on to produce a new impact assessment by the end of 2026 identifying the list of substances present in urban wastewater, verifying the costs of quaternary treatment and the attribution of responsibility to the relevant sectors under the polluter pays principle, and identifying the potential impact on the availability, affordability and accessibility of medicines, in particular generic and critical medicines and their active substances.

Parliament also called on the Commission to:

- accelerate, if necessary on the basis of the impact assessment results, the evaluation of the allocation of substances, and also, if necessary, to immediately reattribute EPR obligations to the sectors identified as responsible;

- issue a communication by the end of July 2026 informing Member States about the independent study and the flexibilities under the directive to ensure the accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines, and to take the necessary measures to monitor the security of supply of medicines and crisis preparedness and avoid unintended consequences for the supply of medicines, including consequences arising from the EPR provisions;

If the results of the impact assessment demonstrate significant risk to the affordability, availability and accessibility of medicines, in particular critical and generic medicines, the Commission should swiftly adopt safeguards to guarantee the security of supply of these medicines, including a temporary suspension of EPR obligations.

Temporary suspension

Members called for a temporary suspension (‘stop the clock’) of the EPR provisions and of the quaternary treatment obligations and related financial obligations until the completion of the study and the assessment of its findings by the Commission.

Given that the EPR obligation applies uniformly to all companies placing products on the EU market, whether produced in or outside the EU, aiming to ensure a level playing field and preventing unfair competitive advantages, the Commission is called on to clarify how non-EU producers will comply with EPR obligations, in order to avoid competitive distortions and to ensure a level playing field.

Shortages

Medicine shortages are already a major and growing challenge in the EU, therefore, Parliament highlighted the need to safeguard EU pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience.