NGT issues notices to states, UTs regarding pharmaceutical pollution

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of pharmaceutical-induced environmental contamination. On May 6, 2024, the NGT directed notices to be issued to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories (UTs) of India, as well as to the state pollution control boards of each state and UT.

The directive comes in response to an alarming revelation brought to light by an article titled “Impact of Pharmaceutical Toxicity on the Environment and its Regulatory Aspects,” published in the journal Current Science on February 25, 2024. The article highlighted the urgent need for attention to this issue, citing that approximately 43% of global rivers are at risk due to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) present in the water. Such continuous emissions not only endanger the environment but also pose potential health risks to humans.

The article further elucidated that pharmaceutical production processes often involve various chemicals, including solvents, APIs, excipients, additives, by-products, and intermediates. Unfortunately, not all of these chemicals are effectively filtered out, leading to ecosystem imbalances and chemical pollution in the environment.

In light of these revelations, the NGT has called for comprehensive responses from all states and UTs, requesting disclosure of the compliance status of pharmaceutical companies with environmental norms and regulatory guidelines. Specifically, the NGT seeks information regarding the number of pharmaceutical companies operating in each region, the extent of compliance with environmental norms, and any actions taken against companies found to be in violation of these norms. Additionally, the NGT has requested details of proposed actions aimed at preventing pharmaceutical-induced environmental toxicity.

Respondents have been instructed to submit their responses at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for August 20, 2024.