In response to concerns about pollution caused by antibiotic production, an industry group is launching a new system to certify that manufacturers meet environmental goals.
The idea is to create a far-reaching standard for measuring discharge from antibiotic production facilities, since standards currently vary across the globe. Pharmaceutical companies that obtain a certificate can then use the document to satisfy customers — such as government agencies — that are increasingly incorporating environmental metrics in purchase agreements.
“Waste should be minimized and strictly controlled every time production is run, so we want to create a robust environmental management system,” said Steve Brooks, an adviser to the AMR Industry Alliance, a collection of about 100 companies that pushed the certification effort as part of its focus on issues surrounding antimicrobial resistance. “The goal here is to provide an independent lens.”
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect