On Tuesday 17 February, the EU Council is due to adopt the new directive to review and update the lists of pollutants affecting surface waters and groundwater.
Poland and Bulgaria are expected to abstain from the vote (https://aeur.eu/f/kqv ). Poland continues to have concerns about the lack of adaptation of the environmental standard for the sum of 24 per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) after adding trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and the lack of sufficient scientific justification for the indicated 0.2 standard for the sum of pesticides.
The Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on 23 September (see EUROPE 13716/4). New substances have been added to the priority lists, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, bisphenols and PFAS. TFA has been added to the sum of 24 PFAS for surface water.
A sum standard of pesticides for surface waters has also been introduced and set at 0.2 µg/l, covering substances already listed as priority substances. Bisphenol A has been designated as a priority hazardous substance. Certain substances, such as atrazine, which are no longer considered relevant at EU level, have been removed from the lists, while the standards for others have been tightened in line with the latest scientific advice.
The deadline for compliance with the new standards has been set at 2039, with possible derogations to extend it to 2045.
Member States must transpose the directive into national law by 21 December 2027.
Link to text: https://aeur.eu/f/kr5 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)