In 2021 MSD Animal Health became the first manufacturing pharmaceutical company in Germany to implement a reusable packaging system and ship medicines and vaccines in sustainable, reusable boxes. In its quest to lessen its impact on the estimated 177.9 kg of packaging waste that each EU inhabitant generated in 2020, the company reduced its CO2 footprint by more than 50% and saved more than 80% of water by eliminating disposable packaging. In just two years, MSD Animal Health delivered one million reusable boxes in Germany. In light of its success, MSD is now working to introduce reusable boxes into shipping processes in other countries as well.
Pioneering Reusable Packaging in Germany
In 2021 MSD Animal Health became the first manufacturing pharmaceutical company in Germany to implement a reusable packaging system and ship medicines and vaccines in sustainable, reusable boxes. In its quest to lessen its impact on the estimated 177.9 kg of packaging waste that each EU inhabitant generated in 2020, the company reduced its CO2 footprint by more than 50% and saved more than 80% of water by eliminating disposable packaging. In just two years, MSD Animal Health delivered one million reusable boxes in Germany. In light of its success, MSD is now working to introduce reusable boxes into shipping processes in other countries as well.

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Discussing healthcare policy priorities in Strasbourg
On Tuesday, 28 to Wednesday, 29 April, AmCham EU travelled to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France for a series of meetings with policymakers to discuss ongoing EU healthcare policy initiatives. The delegation met with Members of the European Parliament, Accredited Parliamentary Assistants and Group Policy Advisers, to discuss priorities for the EU’s health agenda. This included exchanges on how to strengthen Europe’s life sciences competitiveness and support resilient supply chains. Members also stressed the need for urgent action to simplify overlapping rules and reduce complexity. They underlined that proportionate, risk-based regulation is essential to support innovation. This approach can also help ensure timely patient access to medicines, medical technologies and diagnostics.
Advancing short-term improvements to the EU Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulations
The Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulations (MDR/IVDR) have created unworkable complexity for the medical devices industry, with dire consequences for European patients. To address these challenges, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) or political groups can help address the unintended consequences of the current framework by tabling a Parliamentary Question that urges the European Commission to introduce targeted relief measures in parallel to a comprehensive revision of the MDR and IVDR. This would support the European Commission to implement short-term relief measures, in addition to the MDR/IVDR revision, that bolster efficiency, mitigate administrative bottlenecks and increase predictability in the regulatory processes. This would have an immediate impact on patient access and boost Europe’s innovation.
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Advancing EU health policy through competitiveness and innovation
On Monday, 27 October, AmCham EU met with Lorena Boix-Alonso, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, for an exchange on the role of health policy in strengthening the EU’s competitiveness. The discussion focused on how to foster innovation while ensuring patient safety, as well as ways to streamline the legislative framework to improve efficiency and uphold high standards of care. AmCham EU highlighted the importance of evidence-based, future-proof regulation that supports a resilient health system and drives innovation. Continued dialogue is essential to advancing shared goals for Europe’s health agenda.
Policy priorities
Insights and advocacy driving Europe’s policy agenda. Our priorities support growth, innovation and a stronger transatlantic economy.
Membership
Connecting business and policymakers to strengthen the voice of American companies in Europe.