Zentiva Calls for Urgent Reevaluation of Waste Water Directive

Zentiva, a key European medicine manufacturer, has reacted to the EU General Court's decision regarding the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The company warns that the Directive, as it stands, threatens the secure supply of essential medicines in Europe.

Zentiva previously pursued legal action in 2025 to annul the Directive, citing it as a major risk to medicine supply. The court recently ruled that Zentiva and similar manufacturers don't have the legal standing to challenge the Directive, despite its significant impact on the industry.

CEO Steffen Saltofte emphasizes that high treatment costs under the UWWTD are unsustainable for generic medicine producers, risking economic viability and leading to potential medicine shortages. Zentiva urges a halt in the Directive's implementation for comprehensive evaluation and to ensure patient access to affordable treatments across Europe.