Under draft rules that follow the polluter pays principle, companies that sell medicines and cosmetics will have to cover at least 80% of the extra costs needed to get rid of tiny pollutants that are dirtying urban wastewater. Governments will pay the rest, members of the bloc said, in a bid to prevent vital products from becoming too expensive or scarce.
The rules, which have been agreed by the European parliament and council of Europe but not yet formally adopted, bulk up requirements to remove nutrients from water and set new standards for micropollutants. They also broaden the areas covered by the law. By 2035 EU member states will have to remove organic matter from urban wastewater before releasing it into the environment in all communities with more than 1,000 people. By 2045 they will have to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in all treatment plants covering more than 10,000 people. They will also have to add an extra step to remove a broad spectrum of micropollutants, according to the European parliament. Governments will also have to monitor sewage for microplastics, forever chemical per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and key health indicators like antimicrobial resistance.
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