The PSCI Wastewater Analysis Project report presents the outcomes of a multi‑year, collaborative initiative from 2022 to 2025.

In response to growing regulatory and stakeholder focus on pharmaceutical emissions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), this project set out to evaluate whether in‑region laboratories in India can reliably measure active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in wastewater at very low concentrations. Strengthening regional analytical capability is critical to improving data reliability and reducing reliance on international sample shipment.

Through a structured, multi‑phase approach, PSCI members collaborated with selected laboratories to:

• Assess analytical capability and infrastructure
• Compare results with established reference laboratories
• Identify gaps in consistency, accuracy, and reproducibility
• Generate practical, actionable recommendations

How to Use This Publication
This report is intended as a guidance and learning resource for PSCI members. It supports:

• More informed selection and engagement with analytical laboratories
  Improved understanding of wastewater API testing challenges
  Strengthened environmental risk assessment and decision‑making
• It is not intended as a ranking or endorsement of any laboratory.

PSCI extends its sincere thanks to the four member companies who contributed to this work Pfizer, Centrient Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis for their technical expertise, sample contributions, and sustained engagement throughout the project.

We invite thoughts/feedback on the report here. Thank you!

The webinar explored best practice wastewater treatment methods for managing the release of APIs into the environment from pharmaceutical manufacturing sites. It was delivered by renowned experts and featured case studies on novel treatment technologies.

We were delighted to be joined by the following speakers:

• Jeffrey Brenchley from Merck (MSD) (Senior Specialist, Global Safety & Environment), speaking about vacuum evaporation
• Birgit Mertens from Johnson & Johnson (Senior Principal Environment Worldwide EHS&S), speaking about ozone as pretreatment
• Jonathan Rhone from Axine Water Technologies Inc. (President and CEO), speaking about electrochemical oxidation

Participants are invited to share feedback about this webinar here.

The recording is available here. (Please refresh the page if you cannot play the video.)

The slides used during the webinar are available to download below.

Please also note that registration for the second session of our supplier conferences is open until 17 September. Topics covered will include climate change (GHG) & sustainable packaging ; sampling and analysing APIs in wastewater with case studies ; a case study on Controlling API Releases; environmental hazards of drugs and case analysis ; and mass balance calculations. To register, please click here for the China session and here for the India session.

Finally, we want your views! We're encouraging all suppliers to take this short survey to help the PSCI understand the impact it has on suppliers.