More EU companies will have to pay for polluting wastewater

Pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies will have to contribute significantly to wastewater treatment in the European Union under new rules agreed by EU countries on Tuesday, reported dpa.

Manufacturers are to pay at least 80% of the additional costs for wastewater treatment caused by their pollution, according to the new legislation.

The new rules are a tightening an existing EU law on urban wastewater treatment and are to apply to smaller companies and more pollutants including micropollutants which are often the by-products of manufacturing medicines and make-up.

Under the new rules, wastewater is also to be strictly monitored for antibiotic-resistant pathogens, viruses and microplastics.

EU countries will also be obliged to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all municipal wastewater treatment plants where appropriate, especially in areas with water scarcity.

Tuesday's agreement was met with mixed reactions by interest groups.

German associations react to the EU rule

The German Association of Local Utilities (VKU) described the new directive as a "necessary step" to protect water bodies and welcomed the idea that the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry will have to contribute to the costs of wastewater treatment.

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) however described the new rules as "completely misguided" and warned that individual products could become more expensive or some systemically important medicines could disappear from the market.

The association expects the German pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry will have to pay around €2 billion-€3 billion a year for wastewater treatment.