The first PMT Workshop entitled "Evaluation of the relevance of substances to raw water in the context of the REACH regulation" took place in Dessau-Rosslau, Germany, on the 19th of January 2011 with 28 experts from water suppliers, water research institutes, universities and authorities. Below is a short summary of the workshop outcomes and the demands of the participants.
Between 2009-2015, the UBA scientifically developed, under the EU´s chemical legislation REACH, new criteria to identify substances which have intrinsic properties that indicate a hazard to the sources of our drinking water. Chemical safety experts and regulators agreed on the need to precautionarily identify such substances of concern. This is considered as the emergence of the PMT/vPvM criteria.
PMT/vPvM substances are persistent and mobile in the aquatic environment. These intrinsic substance properties allow them to spread to the sources of our drinking water. Contamination can be irreparable as these substances remain in the environment and break through filters and survive drinking water treatment. Consequently, registrants under REACH must minimise any emissions into the environment.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) developed at UN level does not take effect directly. To be implemented in a binding way, it must be transposed into the national law of individual states or communities of states. In Europe, this has been done through the CLP Regulation.
