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EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL
ENVIRONMENT
Directorate C – Quality of Life, Water & Air
ENV.C.1 – Water
Brussels, 19 February 2015
WG Chemicals meeting 25-26 February 2025
Agenda item 15: CIS Work Programme 2016-2018 and beyond
Agenda item 15 includes three sub-points:
- review of 2013-2015
- ideas for 2016-2018
- WFD review in 2019
The CIS WP for 2016-2018 needs to be agreed this year. The aim is to provide the basis of a
draft to the SCG in May.
The pages that follow include a table summarising the CIS Work Programme 2013-2015
deliverables and other tasks for WG Chemicals and providing an indication of progress.
Members of WG Chemicals are invited to
- consider this document
- discuss the progress/status
- discuss what should be followed up in the next CIS WP, identifying any additional or
alternative deliverables/tasks
More broadly, Members of WG Chemicals are also invited to discuss issues they would wish
to see considered in the forthcoming review of the WFD.
Comments will also be welcome in writing after the meeting – to be sent by Friday 20
March 2015 to helen.clayton@ec.europa.eu
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Progress on deliverables and other tasks for WG Chemicals under the CIS Work Programme 2013-2015 as at February 2015
The Work Programme highlights one key priority for the Water Status Cluster that concerns WG Chemicals, i.e. Follow up to the new Priority
Substances Directive by 2014. This is broken down into three main WG deliverables and a number of tasks. There are also some tasks not linked
specifically to the new legislation.
Deliverable/task under CIS Work Programme
Progress/Status
Deliverables (with description of tasks)
List of substances to include in the first Watch WG was consulted on methodology early in 2014
List, with technical specifications for monitoring and invited to propose substances for inclusion.
them, by 2014
JRC prepared Technical Report on the
Development of the 1st Watch List as basis for
Preparation for Watch List monitoring, including work selecting substances. WG provided comments on
on identifying substances to include in the first Watch three versions in autumn 2014. SCG was sent the
List and agreeing technical specifications for report for information. JRC report published Jan
monitoring them
2015, along with separate report on analytical
methods for the substances. Art. 21 Committee
vote on draft proposal on 25 February,
Commission adoption likely in mid March.
COM is preparing sampling guidance and
elaborated analytical methods guidance for
consultation with WG.
Status: Nearing completion
Supplementary guidance on biota monitoring was
Supplementary guidance on biota sampling and prepared by a Drafting Group of experts
monitoring by 2014
nominated via the WG and supported by wca
Environment Ltd. The draft guidance was sent to
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Comments from WG, follow-up, etc.
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Preparation of supplementary guidance on biota
sampling and monitoring, taking into account MSFD
needs
the WG for comment in early autumn 2014. A
revised version was presented to the SCG in Nov
2014 and adopted by WDs in Nov 2014. It was
published in CIRCABC in December 2014.
Status: Completed, although there may be some
follow-up regarding statistical aspects and marine
spatial aspects
Analytical methods for priority substances by Guidance on analysing priority substances
2014
(existing and new) in biota samples was prepared
by the JRC and sent to the WG for comment in
Preparation of guidance on analytical methods for early autumn 2014. Following consideration by
newly identified priority substances and for existing the SCG and WDs as above, it was published in
priority substances with new EQS
CIRCABC in Dec 2014.
Guidance on analytical methods for new PS with
water EQS will be prepared by the JRC for
consultation with the WG. No additional guidance
is needed for existing PS with revised EQS.
Status: Completed for existing PS and new PS with
biota EQS; to be completed for new PS with water
EQS.
Other tasks
Guidance on BLM
Draft guidance has been prepared through an
initiative supported by industry and several MS. It
Preparation of guidance on how to select and apply was provided to WG members for comment in
appropriate biotic ligand models (BLMs)
September 2014, and revised in response – some
last-minute comments still need to be considered.
At the Oct 2014 WG meeting, several MS did not
consider it ready for adoption as CIS guidance.
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Status: To be reviewed
Support to next PS review
A sub-group (SG-R) has been established to
contribute to this process. The SG-R met in Sept
Provision of support/input to the next review of the 2014 and Jan 2015 under the chairmanship of the
priority substances list, including by addressing JRC. A report prepared by wca Environment Ltd
objectives and requirements of the MSFD (“marine- has provided the basis for refining the
specific pollutants”, “marine risk assessment”, seafood
prioritisation methodology. Terms of Reference
contamination, etc)
for the SG-R have been drafted.
Status: Ongoing
Emerging pollutants
Identification of emerging pollutants, especially those
relevant to drinking water and to urban wastewater
treatment
WG members proposed some emerging
pollutants for inclusion in the WL and SG-R is
considering some in PS review.
WG being informed of progress on the review of
the DWD annexes. (Public consultation on DWD
annexes review was held in 2014.)
Status: Ongoing
Analytical methods support
Ensuring sharing of experience and needs regarding
analytical methods for existing priority substances and
RBSPs, and provision of support to develop such
methods where possible, including via dissemination of
outputs of CEN Mandate 424.
WG was consulted on draft versions of CEN M424
methods. Final drafts being made available to MS.
Status: Partially ongoing
Harmonisation of status assessment and reporting WG Chemicals had opportunity to comment on
draft Reporting Guidance in 2013/14. Tools are
Ensuring harmonised approaches to reporting chemical under test – MS may volunteer.
monitoring data and assessing status, (including for
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MSFD descriptors 8 and 9), in relation to
grouping/estimation and unknown status (follow up
the CMEP reports on application of the QA/QC Directive
and the statistical methods for applying MACs).
Bilateral meetings with MS have included
discussion and action points re assessment of
status.
Status: Still to follow up CMEP reports.
Support to MSFD descriptor implementation
Supporting the implementation of descriptor 8 and 9
for good environmental status under the MSFD by
sharing experience gained under the WFD.
Outputs of joint freshwater-marine workshop
held at JRC in 2012 being followed up in context
of review of MSFD GES descriptors; WG is being
kept informed. MSFD experts were invited to
provide inputs to biota monitoring guidance to
ensure its applicability.
Status: Ongoing
Inventories of emissions
A couple of meetings were held to discuss
inventories. Intention was expressed to revive a
Reviewing progress and troubleshooting issues on the sub-group to discuss emissions factors etc. Marine
preparation of inventories of emissions, discharges and litter study being managed by ENV C2. Some MS
losses and expanding the concept to sources in marine provided contacts.
waters (e.g. offshore) as well as to marine litter from
land-based sources (in particular microplastics).
Quantification of pressures (incl. diffuse)
Status: Emissions factor work to be followed up.
Status: Not started (linked to inventories)
Developing approaches to the quantification of
pressures from chemical pollution, e.g. from diffuse
emissions from agriculture
Training on certified reference materials
Status: Not started
Organising training on how to use certified reference
materials (CRM)
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Passive sampling etc
Continued exploration of the potential to apply passive
sampling and bioanalytical tools also for MSFD needs
(with a view to developing guidance).
The supplementary biota monitoring guidance
includes reference to the use of passive sampling
for screening purposes.
Status: Ongoing
Effect-based approaches/mixtures
Some presentations have been given in WG
meetings on effect-based aspects. Oestrogen
Closer collaboration with ecological status colleagues screening initiative, also sparked by SPI activities
on effect-based tools and the potential impacts of in the WG, is underway involving several MS and
chemical mixtures.
stakeholders.
Status: Starting. Still to begin exchanges with
Ecostat WG.
IPCheM
WG informed about progress and invited to
contribute.
Contribution to the Information Platform on Chemical
Monitoring (IPCheM)
Status: IPCheM prototype developed by JRC; EEA
becoming more involved. Data protection
agreement under discussion.
Natural background concentrations
Work on approaches
concentrations
to
natural
background
Status: Not started, except in the context of BLM
guidance.
BATNEEC
Identification of best available techniques not entailing
excessive costs
Status: Not started
Marine litter especially from land
See above. Marine litter study being managed by
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ENV C2. Some MS provided contacts.
Exploration of the relevance of marine litter from landbased sources, in particular
Status: Ongoing
Identification of measures
Issue raised in RBMP bilateral meetings with MS.
Identification of substance-specific and
measures for implementation at MS level
general
Links with other regulatory activities
Ensuring links/synergies with
activities, e.g. IPPC/IED - E-PRTR
other
regulatory
Status: Not started in WG.
Diffuse emissions study for ENV C3 (from
Deltares) made available to WG. WG consulted on
position re use of scrubbers on ships to meet
Sulphur Directive obligations.
Status: Ongoing
Source-control/PHS emissions phase-out
Development and implementation of source-control
measures under REACH, PPP Regulation etc, relevant to
meeting EQS and to achieving phase-out of emissions
(PHS)
Status: Not started; likely to come up in the
context of PS review.
PIE strategic approach
WG members were invited to contribute to BIO IS
study on PIE. Workshop was held in Brussels on
Development of a strategic approach to addressing the 11 September 2014 involving several WG
risks from pharmaceutical substances in the members. Brief report was made to Oct SCG
environment (subject to adoption of new Priority meeting. Workshop report being finalised. Work
Substances Directive)
on examining policy options to begin in 2015.
Status: Ongoing
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Predicting effects of measures
Status: Not started
Work on predicting the effects of measures
Coherent risk management
(Linked also with coherent risk assessment). New
PS review trying to use data/risk assessments
Ensuring coherence and consistency in risk available under REACH, PPP and BP Regulations,
management approaches under other legislation (e.g. pharmaceuticals legislation.
drinking water requirements)
WG being informed of progress on the review of
the DWD annexes. (Public consultation on DWD
annexes review was held in 2014.)
Status: Ongoing/to be further developed
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