Priority substances in the field of water policy

1) OBJECTIVE

To establish a list of priority substances in the field of water policy, for which quality standards and measurements for the reduction of emission controls will be set at Community level.

2) ACT

Decision 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2001, establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC [Official Journal L331 of 15.12.2001].

3) SUMMARY

The Decision ranks in order of priority the substances for which quality standards and emission control measures will be set at Community level. This supplements the water framework directive, and becomes Annex X.

The priority substances were identified using a procedure for compiling data produced by a new method: monitoring of surface waters in the Member States, and associated modelling (the COMMPS procedure: Combined Monitoring-based and Modelling-based Priority Setting).

Up to 33 priority substances or groups of substances have been proposed, including anthracene, benzene, cadmium and its compounds, tributyltin and naphthalene. The complete list can be found in the Annex to this Decision.

The list will be reviewed and adapted by the European Commission at the latest four years after the entry into force of the water framework directive, and then at least every four years. The review will take account of any information which comes to its attention, particularly from the Member States, the Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE), the European Environment Agency, Community research programmes, international organisations in which the Commission takes part, European business organisations and European environmental organisations.

Last updated: 08.07.2005