Regional Workshop Containing Antibiotic Pollution from Manufacturing

Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Park, Navi Mumbai
9:00 AM -5.30 PM 

Entry by invitation only 

The silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health concern today. In addition to misuse of antibiotics in human-health and food production, drivers of AMR include discharges from antibiotic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and formulation manufacturers. Antibiotic manufacturing discharge can, therefore,be considered a ‘hot-spot’, reflecting monitoring and mitigation possibilities at the source. 

The global concern to limit antibiotics in manufacturing discharge is growing. For example, the WHO has included environmental considerations in Good Manufacturing Practices. UNEP came up with a report that says pharmaceutical discharge is like a hot-spot. At the country level, momentum is building up through the procurement policies to create pressure on manufacturers. The big pharmaceutical industry has also taken initiatives such as on discharge standards and third party certification of industry practices to address the concern. 

From the perspective of minimising exposure to Indian population, there has been a growing recognition among government stakeholders as well as the pharma industry on the need for better waste management.For e.g., the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had developed antibiotic standards and has now come up with guidelines which are shared with state PCBs. Some states have also taken initiatives including upgrading common effluent treatment plants. While some big pharmaceutical companies have taken up certain initiatives but a lot needs to be done by many others. Small-and medium-scale industry also needs to be trained and supported to be able to effectively contain antibiotic pollution. 

Our recent report released in November 2023, has looked at the Indian antibiotic manufacturing landscape and existing pollution control policy, systems as well as industry practices. We have also discussed the findings over a national stakeholder consultation with industry and pollution control officials in New Delhi to see what can be the roadmap. 

Taking this forward, CSE is now organizing a series of regional workshops at the state level. The first in the series is being held in Maharashtra, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. The workshop will focus on manufacturing hubs in the western region such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa. It will be an opportunity for creating stakeholder awareness, building capacity and understanding challenges and possibilities.  

For more information, you can write to Gauri Arora of CSE’s Sustainable Food Systems programme at gauri.arora@cseindia.org.