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EU Parliament Approves Suspension of Medicine Wastewater Levy

6/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

European Parliament voted to allow a suspension of the medicines sector’s duties under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
The directive forces medicines and cosmetics producers to pay up to 80% of extra wastewater-treatment costs.
Generic medicines companies lobbied EU lawmakers to ease the levy, claiming the Commission’s modelling is flawed and costs are higher than projected.
Center and left MEPs back an independent study but oppose suspending the polluter-pays principle.

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Story summary

European Parliament voted to allow a suspension of the medicines sector’s duties under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
The directive forces medicines and cosmetics producers to pay up to 80% of extra wastewater-treatment costs.
Generic medicines companies lobbied EU lawmakers to ease the levy, claiming the Commission’s modelling is flawed and costs are higher than projected.
Center and left MEPs back an independent study but oppose suspending the polluter-pays principle.