The European scenario Hamburg used in the tiered approach for groundwater risk assessment of plant protection products in Europe (FOCUS) is evaluated to ascertain whether it also represents and covers German environmental conditions. A German wide analysis using geodata provides evidence that national environmental soil and climate conditions are not suitably covered by the European scenario Hamburg. A national scenario development is scientifically recommended to appropriately protect groundwater against plant protection products in Germany. Model uncertainties and further scientific investigations are critically discussed in this context.