# EU regulatory impact on cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-regulatory-impact-on-cosmetics-and-pharmaceutical-sectors
> Updated: 2026-09-21T13:11:27.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 2.

Representatives from the European cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors have raised concerns regarding the impact of European Union regulations on industry competitiveness and operational costs.

Beiersdorf CEO Vincent Warnery cautioned that excessive regulatory burdens could cause the European cosmetics industry to lose its global competitive edge compared to the United States, China, and South Korea. He specifically criticized proposed amendments to the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, arguing that manufacturers should not be held financially responsible for a disproportionate fraction of total pollution.

Following these concerns, seven industry organizations—including Farmaindustria, AELMHU, and STANPA—released a technical report regarding the implications of Directive 2024/3019. The report addresses the mandate for quaternary treatment to remove microcontaminants from urban wastewater. Under a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime, at least 80% of these treatment costs would be transferred to producers of medicines and cosmetics. The organizations stated that while they support environmental goals, the current EPR design may violate the ‘polluter pays’ principle and contradicts principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Pharmaceutical industry groups warn of EU wastewater directive impacts

Pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry groups have issued a report warning of the economic and regulatory impacts of the EU's new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and its producer responsibility requirements.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pharmaceutical-industry-groups-warn-of-eu-wastewater-directive-impacts

### 2026-09-13: Beiersdorf CEO warns EU regulations threaten cosmetics industry

Beiersdorf CEO Vincent Warnery warns that strict EU regulations on ingredients and wastewater could undermine the global competitiveness of the European cosmetics industry.

18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/beiersdorf-ceo-warns-eu-regulations-threaten-cosmetics-industry-competitiveness

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Cite as: EU regulatory impact on cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-regulatory-impact-on-cosmetics-and-pharmaceutical-sectors