Water policy: list of priority substances, protection of the ecosystem and human health COMMPS

The Commission amended its proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy. This was done in order to align the proposal with the finally adopted text of the Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, in particular by: - identifying the "priority hazardous substances"; - introducing a "review clause" for certain "priority substances" and - adapting the terminology and the phrasing of the final adopted text. The amendment was requested both by the European Parliament and the Council. It must be emphasised that, apart from the above-mentioned amendments, the Proposal of February 2000 is still fully in line with the requirements set out under te Water Framework Directive. In summary, 32 substances or group of substances are proposed as "priority substances" under the Water Framework Directive, of which 11 substances are proposed as "priority hazardous substances" and 11 substances are proposed as "priority substances under review". The final decision for their identification as "priority hazardous substances" will be proposed and adopted with the revision of the list of priority substances, which is foreseen within four years after the entry into force of the Framework Directive. For the remaining 10 priority substances, there is no evidence that they are "toxic, persistent and liable to bio-accumilate" or giving rise to an "equivalent level of concern" based on the best available knowledge.�