The European cosmetics industry welcomes the adoption of the motion for resolution on the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. This is a strong and constructive signal from the European Parliament, recognising the need for an evidence-based approach to the EPR scheme that genuinely implements the Polluter Pays Principle.
Specifically, we strongly welcome the call to deliver a new independent study by the end of 2026 to identify the substances present in urban wastewater, verify the costs of quaternary treatment, and clarify the attribution of responsibility to the relevant sectors under the Polluter Pays Principle.
In this context, a temporary suspension of the EPR scheme would be a necessary enabling step to carry out this reassessment on the basis of sound and updated evidence. This is essential to ensure that any EPR scheme is fair and properly aligned with the Polluter Pays Principle.
Several independent studies already indicate that cosmetics make only a minor contribution to urban wastewater micropollution, likely around 1–2% or less, and that the Commission’s original figure of 26% was significantly overestimated.
We also welcome the fact that concerns expressed by the cosmetics sector around the need for a new study were acknowledged across political groups during the process.
We would like to echo the European Parliament’s call and urge the European Commission to take the updated evidence into account and, where needed, rectify the EPR scheme to ensure that it is fair and fully aligned with the Polluter Pays Principle.
The cosmetics industry supports the Directive’s objectives and reiterates its commitment to paying its fair share, while working constructively with the European Commission, Member States and other stakeholders to ensure cleaner urban wastewater through an EPR scheme that is scientifically sound, fair and workable.