The European Commission has proposed a new draft directive amending the priority substances list designated under the Water Framework Directive. The Commission is proposing to add 15 chemicals to the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters. The substances have been selected on the basis of scientific evidence that suggests a significant risk to health. The substances are:
- Plant protection product substances: aclonifen, bifenox, cypermethrin, dicofol, heptachlor and quinoxyfen
- Substances used in biocidal products: cybutryne, dichlorvos and terbutryn
- Industrial chemicals: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and hexabromocyclododecane
- Combustion by-products: dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs
- Pharmaceutical substances: 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol, 17 beta-estradiol and Diclofenac.
The Commission’s draft Directive will be discussed by the Council and European Parliament. Member states will be required to meet environmental quality standards for the new priority substances by 2021.
