European Commission - Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in Environment

• 02/05/2017
• Articles

On 28 April 2017, the European Commission (the “Commission”) published a roadmap in which it announced the development of a strategic approach for protecting the environment and human health from the discharge of pharmaceuticals. The Commission focuses on water but will also address issues raised by pollution of the soil.

In what has been a tortuous road, the Commission took preliminary steps in 2014 when it held a workshop and published a report on the subject. However, further progress on the matter stalled and the Commission’s recent roadmap makes it clear that the Commission is still not in a position to act. As a matter of fact, the Commission now plans to:

• identify what it refers to as “remaining knowledge gaps and uncertainties” and present possible solutions for filling them; and
• explore how to protect the environment (and human health via the environment) while safeguarding access to effective and appropriate pharmaceutical treatments for human patients and animals.

Before the Summer of 2017, the Commission will launch a public consultation.

Click below to view the Commission's roadmap.