Brussels, 13 July 2026 – From 2 to 4 June, the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association of the European Self-Care Industry (AESGP) brought together industry, policy and regulatory leaders in Berlin to discuss how self-care can strengthen resilient, sustainable, and patient-centred healthcare systems across Europe.

Under the theme “Together for Better Health: Building Safe, Effective & Sustainable Self-Care in Europe”, the event convened representatives from European institutions, national authorities, healthcare professionals, consumer organisations, and industry to exchange on the policy, regulatory, and market developments shaping the future of self-care.

Self-Care and Prevention: A Strategic Priority for Europe

European healthcare systems are under growing pressure from demographic change, workforce shortages and rising demand for care. In this context, prevention and responsible self-care are essential to improving health outcomes while ensuring long-term sustainability.

Empowering people to take an active role in their health – supported by access to safe, effective and well-regulated self-care products – must become a core component of European health policy. Strengthening health literacy and prevention strategies is a key lever to reduce avoidable burden on healthcare systems while improving quality of life.

Empowering People in a Changing Healthcare Landscape

The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by digitalisation and shifting expectations.

Pharmacies remain a pillar of accessible healthcare, playing a central role in guiding responsible self-care. At the same time, digital tools, online channels and AI-supported services are reshaping how people access information and manage their health.

This shift towards more engaged, digitally connected population reinforces the need for integrated, accessible and trustworthy self-care solutions across all channels.

A Predictable and Proportionate Regulatory Framework

The European regulatory environment remains a defining factor for the sector’s ability to deliver.

Maintaining high standards of safety, quality and efficacy must go hand in hand with a proportionate, predictable and innovation-friendly regulatory framework. Such an approach is critical to ensure timely access to self-care products, support competitiveness and sustain investment in Europe.

Debate focused on key EU legislative initiatives, including pharmaceutical reform, medical devices regulation, and environmental legislation such as the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Evidence-based and balanced implementation will be essential to avoid unintended consequences for availability, affordability and innovation.

Driving Innovation, Competitiveness and Access

Market trends confirm a structural shift towards prevention, wellness and everyday health management, with people increasingly seeking solutions that fit seamlessly into their daily lives.

Innovation in self-care now extends beyond products to include digital services, data-driven tools and personalised approaches. Ensuring that Europe provides a competitive and enabling environment for innovation will be key to unlocking this potential.

A well-functioning Single Market and reduced regulatory fragmentation were identified as critical to improving access and strengthening Europe’s global position in consumer health.

Sustainability and Responsibility

Sustainability is becoming a core strategic priority for the self-care sector, closely linked to regulatory developments and societal expectations.

Advancing environmental objectives – including packaging and circularity – while safeguarding access to essential self-care products requires pragmatic, science-based approaches that align environmental ambition with public health needs.

Mental wellbeing also continues to gain prominence as an important dimension of self-care, reflecting broader societal challenges.

Engaging Discussions and Looking Ahead

Parallel sessions and roundtables explored key topics including the consumer journey to self-care, mental health and cognitive wellbeing, the future of self-care packaging, the value of vitamins and minerals, and modern advertising. They offered practical insights that will help shape AESGP’s policy and advocacy priorities in the year ahead.

The meeting concluded with a forward-looking discussion on global trends shaping healthcare, including technological transformation, demographic change and geopolitical uncertainty.

Looking ahead, the discussions reinforced a clear message: self-care must play a stronger role as a driver of prevention, patient empowerment and healthcare system resilience in Europe.

Save the Date

Beyond the programme, the Annual Meeting once again demonstrated its value as a key platform for dialogue across the self-care ecosystem, bringing together policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to exchange and shape the policy agenda.

These exchanges will continue to inform AESGP’s work in promoting accessible, sustainable and innovation-driven self-care solutions across Europe.

Save the date: the 63rd AESGP Annual Meeting will take place from 8 to 10 June 2027 in Brussels, offering another opportunity to engage with leading voices shaping the future of self-care.

Available Press Articles

Read more about some of the key themes of this year’s conference in articles from HBW Insight, available for free:

• Self-Care Steps Into The Spotlight
• GLP-1, Prevention And Wastewater Bills: Reflections On The 62nd AESGP Annual Meeting
• ‘Too Badly Designed To Work’ – Industry Lays Into EU Urban Wastewater Directive
• EU Urban Wastewater ‘Producer Pays’ Provisions Could Fall Before Implementation
• GLP-1: Consumer Health Industry Should Be Looking Ahead To Future Rx-To-OTC Switch
• Germany Moves To Simplify ‘Very Bureaucratic’ Rx-To-OTC Switch Procedure
• New EU Packaging Rules: What Consumer Healthcare Companies Need To Know
• OTC Industry Warned: Don’t Lose Sight Of Community Pharmacy