At the meeting of European health ministers on Tuesday 2 December, the Czech Republic, supported by several delegations, raised the issue of the potential impact of extended producer responsibility (EPR), provided for in the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (2024/3019), on the supply of medicines in the EU.
The European Commission has undertaken to carry out an analysis as part of a cost study to assess the implications of the directive for healthcare systems, in line with the commitment set out in the European Water Resilience Strategy (see EUROPE 13551/19).
As the Commission services update the impact assessment supporting the introduction of this EPR for the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sectors starting in 2029, the Commissioner for Health, Olivér Várhelyi said he was ready to “refine our approach, including the possibility of postponing application or allowing time for a review”.
A dozen ministers have called for the new study to cover the impact of EPR on national healthcare systems and on the price of medicines.
While the introduction of EPR for pharmaceutical residues should enhance environmental protection, it could also have a significant impact on the price of medicines, reimbursement frameworks and patient access to essential treatments, the Czech Republic points out.
Speaking to the press, Mr Várhelyi expressed his desire to speed up work on the study in order to provide Member States with rapid clarity, without putting forward any timetable. The fate of EPR is also being discussed as part of the preparation of an ‘omnibus’ text, the presentation of which has been postponed from 3 to 10 December. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)