Policy makers from the European Commission`s DG Environment and DG Grow, Member State national health authorities and water industry representatives discussed a way forward, on the European regulatory framework covering materials and products in contact with drinking water, at a conference in Brussels on 19-20 May 2015.
Organised by the European Federation of National Associations of Water Services, the European Copper Institute, Plastics Europe and Aqua Europa, the event gathered about 160 participants from 22 countries.

Stakeholders signalled the need for a breakthrough, on the implementation of Article 10 of the Drinking Water Directive (1998), in order to find a solution to the current diverse approaches that risk undermining EU`s ultimate goal of protecting the health of its citizens.
Work carried out by the industry over the past 17 years supported the use of the so-called 4 (5) Member States approach to provide a solid basis for the approval and acceptance schemes for drinking water materials and products. Participants at the conference agreed that this constructive approach would guarantee the long-term safety and protection of human health through the exclusive use of approved materials and products.

Round table meetings, under the guidance of DG ENV, GROW and SANTE, involving the Member States and stakeholders from industry (utilities, material suppliers, product manufacturers) have been agreed as a follow-up from the conference, while an update on the future EU approach will be given in May 2016.
Companies concerned were also invited to share with DG ENV facts and figures on costs and investments, as well as potential financial losses, in order for the EU regulator to assess accordingly the impact of the current policy approach within the evaluation of the Drinking Water Directive.

For more information on the event, click here.