European Parliament votes for suspension of Extended Producer Responsibility

The European Parliament has voted for the temporary suspension of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and other obligations related to quaternary treatment according to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) on 18 June in Strasbourg. A small majority in the European Parliament is afraid that the current UWWTD-obligations will lead to medicine shortages in Europe. The non-binding resolution will now be forwarded to the European Commission for consideration.

The European water sector is concerned that the suspension of the Extended Producer Responsibility, also known as the Polluter Pays Principle, will set a dangerous precedent for other pollutants in wastewater and will cause regulatory uncertainty. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry is satisfied with the majority of votes of the European Parliament. According to Adrian van den Hoven, director general of Medicines for Europe the vote ‘sends a clear message that Europe cannot put drug supplies at risk based on flawed calculations’. In an article published by Politico he said: “We support environmental policy that must be evidence-based, proportionate and should not threaten patient access to medicines.”

Impact assessment before end of 2026

The resolution asks the European Commission to conduct a new impact assessment by the end of 2026 to verify the costs of advanced wastewater treatment, identify the sectors responsible for pollution, and assess potential impacts on the availability and affordability of medicines. It also calls for a temporary ‘stop the clock’ suspension of EPR provisions and related financial obligations until the study has been completed and assessed. While the resolution does not alter existing legislation, it sends a strong political signal to the European Commission.

Polluter pays principle at risk

Under the revised UWWTD legislation, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors are expected to cover at least 80 percent of the costs associated with removing these pollutants from wastewater. Supporters of the resolution argue that Europe is simultaneously attempting to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and strategic autonomy while introducing additional regulatory costs for the sector. The resolution also stresses the need to monitor medicine shortages, which are already considered a major challenge across Europe, and calls on the European Commission to safeguard access to critical and generic medicines.

Water sector warns of regulatory uncertainty

In a statement following the vote, the European Water Association (EWA) stressed on LinkedIn that the resolution is non-binding and does not change the legal obligations established under the revised UWWTD. The association described EPR as a cornerstone of the directive that helps finance quaternary wastewater treatment while protecting affordability for citizens and water users. EWA warned that delaying implementation would create uncertainty for utilities, competent authorities, technology suppliers and investors at a time when Europe is already facing increasing water quality challenges driven by pollution, droughts and climate change. Aqua Publica Europea expressed similar concerns on LinkedIn. The organisation stated that suspending implementation would increase uncertainty and delay action to address the growing problem of micropollutants in water resources. It also questioned whether a new impact assessment could be completed in a sufficiently robust and evidence-based manner before the end of 2026.

EurEau: Parliament sides with polluters

The strongest criticism came from the European federation of national water service associations, EurEau. The organisation said on its website that it ‘deeply regrets’ the outcome of the vote and argued that Parliament had effectively sided with polluters rather than municipalities, taxpayers and citizens. EurEau warned that suspending EPR creates significant regulatory uncertainty at a time when wastewater operators and technology suppliers are already preparing for implementation. According to EurEau, the revised UWWTD already contains safeguards allowing authorities to address potential risks to medicine affordability and availability. The organisation also pointed out that advanced treatment may still be necessary to comply with environmental quality standards, even if quaternary treatment obligations are delayed.

Industry lawsuits dismissed earlier this year

In February 2026 the General Court of the European Union has dismissed the lawsuits brought by pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies and their trade associations against the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provisions in the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The Extended Producer Responsibility has been under fire for a long time, since producers want to share the pollution costs with society.