Water policy

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the establishment of a regularly updated list of priority substances and a procedure for the identification of priority substances/priority hazardous substances as well as the adoption of the specific measures against pollution from these substances. 

The Priority substances Quality Standards was adopted in December 2008.  The Directive establishes environmental quality standards (EQS) for 33 priority substances likely to be found in rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Of these priority substances 11 have been identified as priority hazardous substances which will be subject to cessation or phasing out of discharges, emissions and losses within an appropriate timetable that shall not exceed 20 years. 

By 2018 the Commission shall verify that emissions, discharges and losses are making progress towards compliance with the reduction or cessation objectives laid down in WFD.

Euro Chlor has closely followed the development of this directive as 11 of the listed substances are chlorinated chemicals and also mercury is included on the list.  Euro Chlor did contribute to the process of establishing EQS through its Science activities and also defined threshold values in biota for mercury and the unintended by-products hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD). 

Euro Chlor will continue to contribute to a science-based and workable implementation of the WFD.

Read more about The Water Framework Directive on europa.eu
Read more about The Priority substances Quality Standards on europa.eu
See the Marine risk assessments page

Last update: 09/2011