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ARTICLE · 03 JULY 2024

The New Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

Crowell & Moring LLP
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New EU legislation is about to be adopted which will require pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies to pay water pollution costs. More specifically, it will oblige those companies to pay for the clean-up...

United StatesEnvironment
Kristof Roox
Kristof Roox
Marcus Navin-Jones
Marcus Navin-Jones

What You Need to Know

  • Key takeaway #1
    New EU Water Legislation would require pharma and cosmetic companies to pay water pollution costs.
  • Key takeaway #2
    Pharma and cosmetic companies may be on the hook for significant costs in the future.
  • Key takeaway #3
    New EU Water Legislation would also make it easier for EU citizens to sue companies for damage to health.

New EU legislation is about to be adopted which will require pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies to pay water pollution costs. More specifically, it will oblige those companies to pay for the clean-up and removal of micropollutants from effluent water. In addition, it will increase the risk of pharmaceutical and other companies facing legal damage-to-health claims. The new EU legislation – called the (Recast) Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive ("New UWWTD") – is expected to be formally adopted in Q3/4 of this year.

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