The Drinking Water Directive

The revised Drinking Water Directive consists of provisions that regulate the quality of drinking water for everyone in the European Union. The objectives are to protect human health from the harmful effects of any contamination of drinking water by ensuring that it is healthy and clean and to improve access to drinking water.

New requirements for materials in contact with drinking water

The Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184 entered into force in January 2021. The revised Directive differs from the previous 1998 Directive (98/83/EC) in that it requires Member States to apply a risk-based approach to the safety of drinking water. The approach includes risk assessment and risk management for the entire supply chain, from the catchment area to the distribution of water. There are also rules on common minimum requirements for materials that come into contact with drinking water. These include requirements that all substances used in the materials must be authorised. The approved substances must then be listed on lists of authorised substances, known as positive lists.

Sweden is now introducing the rules in several national regulations and several authorities are involved in the implementation. The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning has a coordinating role for issues relating to construction products that come into contact with drinking water and to materials and products included or intended to be included in such construction products. As of 1 April 2024, the Swedish Chemicals Agency is responsible for providing support and guidance to companies and other actors who want to apply to include a substance on a positive list. The Swedish Chemicals Agency will also be able to apply on its own initiative to add or remove substances from the lists. This is stated in an amendment to the Swedish Chemicals Agency's instructions. The amendment entered into force on 1 April.

Application for inclusion of substances on positive lists

Applications to include substances on positive lists are handled by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), in cooperation with Member States. Applicants start by submitting an intention to apply to ECHA by 31 December 2025 at the earliest. The intention is published on ECHA's website and is intended to allow applicants to make joint applications. Applicants are encouraged to cooperate by preparing a joint application for a substance, thereby avoiding, among other things, unnecessary animal testing. Applications can then be submitted from 31 December 2026.

The information to be included in the application is set out in the Annex to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/369, which regulates the application procedure.