The production and use of pharmaceuticals are increasing worldwide, and with them, reports of pharmaceutical residues in the environment. At global level, the multistakeholder agreement Global Framework on Chemicals - For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (GFC) recognizes Environmentally Persistent Pharmaceutical Products as an issue of concern.
A Latin American Subregional Consultation “Advancing a response to pharmaceuticals in the environment in the context of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC)” was organized by UNEP in Bogota, Colombia (and online), on 29 and 30 October 2025 in collaboration with the Basel Convention Coordinating Center, Stockholm Convention Regional Center for Latin America and the Caribbean (BCCC-SCRC), and with financial support from the Government of Sweden.
The event brought together more than 30 representatives from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay, as well as from academia, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector in the region.
During the consultation, participants shared perspectives and experiences on the issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment as well as the actions undertaken in their respective countries and sectors. They identified both national and regional challenges and provided insights on potential future actions, including in the context of the Global Framework on Chemicals.
The meeting report in Spanish and its summary in English are available here.
