Valentina Palmisano· The Left

Nuanced

Today up to 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients come from third countries

Omissions

• The 80% figure represents an upper-range estimate ('up to 80%') rather than a definitive average value
• The European Commission's 2021 report on strategic dependencies identified API dependency as a strategic vulnerability but did not specify this exact percentage
• Different methodologies for calculating API dependence may yield different results
• The figure refers to 'chemical substances required for pharmaceutical production' which may include more than just active pharmaceutical ingredients

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission - Strategic Dependencies and Capacities ReportThe European Commission's report 'Strategic dependencies and capacities' (2021) formally classified API dependency as a strategic vulnerability for the EU
• AcademicPharmacia - The European Union's dependence on imports of active pharmaceutical ingredients from third countriesAccording to the authors, up to 80% of the chemical substances required for pharmaceutical production in the EU are sourced or synthesized in third countries