Environment ministers discussed materials and products in contact with drinking water

On June 25, EU Environment Ministers (Environment Council) held a policy debate on how to harmonise materials and products in contact with drinking water.

Most Member States were lukewarm about the Commission proposal to establish rules on materials and products in contact with drinking water under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). In their view, the CPR would neither cover all products (pumps, water meters, water heaters, hoses, gaskets, etc. are excluded from the scope of the CPR) nor lead to the development of hygienic requirements for materials in contact with drinking water. Most Member States proposed, instead, to pursue harmonisation under the Drinking Water Directive.

The Environment Council is expected to adopt a preliminary position on the Commission proposal in the coming months. After that, the negotiations on a final compromise between the European Parliament and the Environment Council will start. It is not clear whether EU institutions will manage to reach an agreement before the European elections of May 2019.

Read more about the Council meeting