Newly-formed UK PiE Group seeks reducing impact of pharmaceuticals on environment

05 / 06 / 2023

By Marwa Nassar - -

The new-formed UK Group of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) seeks to reduce the impacts of pharmaceuticals in the environment.

The PiE Group is a UK cross-government platform to enable discussion and knowledge exchange relating to pharmaceuticals in the environment from human, veterinary and, where there is cross over, agricultural and non-agricultural sources.

It anticipates that membership will grow to include more organizations from across the UK government and devolved administrations.

Currently, the group’s membership includes Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Environment Agency (EA), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Veterinary Products Committee (VPC), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

At the first meeting, held in April 2023, the group agreed its purpose – to develop a co-ordinated strategy to reduce the impacts of pharmaceuticals on the environment (biodiversity) and human health.

It also identified its first priority area, which is to gain a better understanding of the potential sources of fipronil and imidacloprid levels detected in UK surface waters and to work towards reducing these levels.