1. Sub-Group on Review of Priority Substances – state of play
WG E Meeting (Agenda item 3)
Brussels
15-16 March 2010
Jorge Rodriguez Romero
WFD Team
DG Environment

2. Contents
Meetings and activities of the Sub-Group
Approach used to reach the shortlist
Discussion and decisions at January meeting of Sub-Group
Shortlist of candidate priority substances (PS)
Content of dossiers
State of play
Next steps

3. Meetings and activities of the Sub-Group
Met Sept 2009 to discuss mandate, reports on monitoring- and modelling based prioritisation, screening criteria etc.
Met Jan 2010 to agree shortlist of possible additional PS
Currently, volunteer MS and DG ENV (via contractor) producing “dossiers” on shortlisted PS in consultation with other MS and stakeholders. Dossiers due 26 March 2010

4. Overall approach to prioritisation

5. A stepwise process for prioritisation
Universe of chemicals ~2000
Application of simplified risk assessment procedures
Assessment of existing risk evaluations
List of candidates ~380
Application of prioritisation criteria
Ranking exercise
Further discussions at January meeting…
Shortlist ~42
Preparation of dossiers
Discussion on individual substances
Final outcome ~ ?

6. Discussion at January meeting
JRC presented information on the modelling-based prioritisation.
COM presented a summary of the prioritisation process thus far, which had arrived at a list of approx 50 substances, obtained by selecting the first substances ranking highest from the various sources (RARs, monitoring and modelling) and considering other sources (PBTs, SVHC, POPs, Annex III).
The proposed shortlist and choices made to arrive to it was extensively discussed at the meeting

7. Decisions at January meeting
Several substances were removed from the list because they pose mainly a local risk: aniline, copper, piperazine, TAME, MTBE.
Several substances were removed on the basis of evidence provided (in some cases to be confirmed) by stakeholders or MS disputing the grounds for listing them, e.g. because they are not registered or used in the EU or don’t have the properties, such as persistence, attributed to them
Irgarol and six pharmaceutical substances/endocrine disruptors were added in response to proposals by Member State and EEB supported by the Sub-Group.
For 42 substances, a provisional list of lead MS to prepare dossiers and of associated MS and stakeholders to provide spontaneous information and/or be consulted was agreed. (WG E(9)–10-03c)

8. Contents of the dossiers
Chemical identity
Existing evaluations and regulatory information
Proposed quality standards
Major uses and environmental emissions
Environmental behaviour
Aquatic environmental concentrations
Effects and quality standards
Bibliography, sources and supportive information

9. State of play
Several draft dossiers have been prepared and are circulating among the associated MS and stakeholders.
Some queries regarding the dossier template have arisen – these are being addressed, i.e. annotated template to be provided to leads this week.
Two pharmaceuticals stakeholder groups have applied (and accepted by co-leads) to join WG E and the Sub-Group on Review and have offered data.

10. Next steps
26 March: deadline for finalisation of the dossiers (will be put in CIRCA)
20-21 April: Sub-Group on Review of PS meets to discuss dossiers to be able to provide conclusions on PS selection to WG E (meeting June)
Work on EQS derivation will start immediately after the Sub-Group meeting