Proposed EU Directive to Combat Surface Water Pollution
A new Directive proposed by the European Commission will set limits on concentrations in surface waters of 41 types of pesticides, heavy metals and other dangerous chemical substances that pose a particular risk to animal and plant life in the aquatic environment and to human health. These limits will have to be met by 2015. The proposal will contribute to the Commission’s Better Regulation initiative by replacing five older directives, allowing their repeal. The proposed Directive on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy is the final major piece of legislation needed to support the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the cornerstone of EU water protection policy.
To become law, the proposal requires approval by the Council and European Parliament under the co-decision procedure. Once it is adopted, Member States will be required to include the measures needed to achieve the agreed standards in their River Basin Management Plans, which must be prepared under the WFD by 2009.
For further information on the Water Framework Directive and the new proposal:
http://ec.europa.eu/
Source: http://ec.europa.eu (accessed 04/08/06)
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