The revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment directive is based on scientific evidence and an impact assessment that are “fundamentally flawed,” according to the Association of the European Self-Care Industry (AESGP).
Although the European self-care industry “absolutely supports” the objectives of the UWWTD, it places an “unfair financial burden on our sector,” argued AESGP president Jonathan Workman, opening the 61st Annual Meeting in Warsaw, Poland.
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While the revised UWWTD represents a “notable challenge” to industry – alongside geopolitical instability, tariff wars and inflationary pressures – there are nevertheless “positive signs in Europe,” continued Workman, who is also Haleon’s general manager for Northern Europe.
“The new European Commission is putting competitiveness and industry at the core of its priorities,” Workman pointed out. “President von der Leyen and her team are also listening to our voices and taking action.”
“But we must not be complacent,” he warned. “We have to redouble our efforts to highlight the value that our sector brings to European citizens, to the economy, to healthcare systems and to society as a whole.”
“We need to create a framework that fosters not frustrates innovation,” he continued. “We need to expand the range of self-care options available to consumers. We need to drive access and we must strengthen the competitiveness of European industry in the global marketplace. And this is not just a policy imperative, it’s a public health and economic necessity.”
To ensure that this vision becomes a reality, AESGP will deliver a concrete proposal to the European Commission outlining steps to “simplify regulation, promote innovation and safeguard the future of self-care in Europe,” he added.
EU Pharma Revision
Workman’s “call to action” was echoed by Polish self-care industry association (PASMI) president Ewa Jankowska, who pointed to the revision of the European Union’s pharmaceutical legislation as “one of the biggest reforms in the sector’s history.”
“We must make sure OTC medicines are part of the conversation,” Jankowska insisted. “Because giving people the choice to manage their health where it is safe and appropriate isn’t just smart, it is a necessity with an aging society and with overwhelmed healthcare systems.”
Polish Member of European Parliament and chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health Adam Jarubas also stressed the importance of the EU pharma revision, particularly in making sure that prevention is at the center of the policy agenda.
“It is an opportunity to shape a regulatory environment that supports both innovation and access, not only for prescription medicines, but for non-prescription treatments that play a vital role in everyday health,” he commented.
Self-Care Contribution
Jarubas noted the contribution that preventative healthcare already makes to EU economy, quoting AESGP data showing that self-care saves Europe €34bn ($37bn) annually and could save an extra €17.6bn if more products were available for self-manageable conditions.
“Prevention is no longer nice to have,” Jarubas argued. “It is a necessity and self-care, when supported by the right policies and practices and supported by healthcare professionals, can be one of our strongest tools to build healthier, more resilient societies.”
Look out for further coverage of the AESGP Annual Meeting in HBW Insight.