What are other Member States doing to develop standards for Specific Pollutants?

Other Member States are also developing approaches to applying Good Ecological Status. They are also developing their standards and supporting legislative regimes for Specific Pollutants.

The UK is contributing to the European Common Implementation Strategy. This is setting out guidance for Priority Hazardous Substances, including how the standards are set, and how they are monitored. We are ensuring that the same principles are adopted, where appropriate, for our proposals for Specific Pollutants.

There is a long history in Europe of developing standards for polluting substances and assessing the toxicology and potential impact on ecology. As part of the data collection process for the proposed UK standards, we have collated datasets from across the UK, Europe and beyond. We have verified these data to ensure an acceptable level of quality, validation and reporting before drawing any conclusions. In addition we have assembled a panel of noted experts to provide a thorough peer review of the approach taken.

Because of our involvement in the Common Implementation Strategy, we have been able to take account of emerging European views. Other Member States are identifying substances that are important to them. We have already established informal liaison with several European partners and will seek to maintain this dialogue to confirm that our approaches are comparable. We anticipate that by the end of 2007, we will be able to compare our work with other Member States