The LIFE Pharma Detox project is highly relevant to the evolving policy landscape at both EU and national levels, particularly in the context of wastewater treatment and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) management. The project directly supports the objectives of the new Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), as the polluter pays principle by tackling pharmaceutical pollutants at source, reducing their discharge into urban wastewater systems and reducing the pressure on wastewater treatment plants. This is in line with the EU’s wider commitment to strengthen water quality standards under the European Green Deal and the Zero Pollution Action Plan. In addition, by targeting antimicrobial residues, the project contributes to EU and national AMR action plans, which emphasise the need to reduce pharmaceutical contamination of water bodies to prevent the spread of resistant micro-organisms. Its alignment with the WHO guidelines on AMR reinforces its global relevance, as these guidelines urge governments to implement measures to limit the release of antimicrobial compounds into the environment, and set values that are intended to be conservative and predict the concentration at which a chemical is unlikely to have a toxic effect (Predicted No Effect Concentration, PNEC). By combining scientific innovation with regulatory compliance, the LIFE Pharma Detox project offers a scalable solution that not only supports current legislation, but also anticipates future regulatory tightening in wastewater management and pharmaceutical pollution control.