Brussels, 23 October 2018 -
The European Drinking Water Industrial Alliance (EDW) welcomes the European Parliament’s decision to harmonise hygienic rules for materials and products in contact with drinking water under the Drinking Water Directive.
“The European Parliament has sent a strong signal that the same high hygienic standards should apply to all materials and products in contact with drinking water all across the EU”, said Volker Meyer, Chairman of the EDW.
Until now several EU Member States have developed their own rules on materials and products in contact with drinking water, resulting in potentially different levels of human health protection and market fragmentation. As a result, producers need to assess and test the conformity of the same material or product multiple times, resulting in unnecessary costs. Not only does this situation make more difficult for companies – especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) – to export their products to other EU countries, but it also hampers innovation.
“The European Parliament position will help overcome current fragmentation. It is an important step towards the development of a harmonised legislative framework on drinking water applications. This is good for public health, competitiveness and innovation: all EU consumers will enjoy the same high level of human health protection and EU companies will be able to reap the advantages of the single market”, stated Volker Meyer, Chairman of the EDW.
The EDW calls on all EU institutions to reach an agreement on the harmonisation of materials and products in contact with drinking water.
Contact:
European Drinking Water (Luca Ibelli, +32-2-676.74.73, info@europeandrinkingwater.eu)
