During the past two decades as well as during the ongoing process of evaluating the Drinking Water Directive, quality assurance for products and materials used in the drinking water sector has been targeted again and again as these products are closely linked to consumer health protection. The affected industry and regulatory bodies already spoke out for uniform implementation of Article 10 of the Drinking Water Directive from 1998 at an event for the associations EurEau, the European Copper Institute, Plastics Europe and Aqua Europa in 2015. On the 12th of May of this year, the current state of the various initiatives for enforcing a European solution will be presented in addition to a new study by the "Environment" Directorate-General of the European Commission at a follow-up event in Brussels.
Article 10 of the Drinking Water Directive demands that member states guarantee the hygienic safety of materials and products that come into contact with drinking water. However, appropriate consensus and implementation at the European level also require a common agreement concerning their free market access. Until now, there has not been any legislative framework whatsoever which takes both of these aspects into account.
In light of this, a group of European associations - the European Union of National Associations of Water Suppliers (EurEau), Plastics Europe as well as Aqua Europa as an association for the manufacturers of products in the drinking water sector and the European Copper Institute (ECI) - discussed possible solutions together with the industry and both national and EU regulatory authorities at a relevant session in May 2015. There, it became clear that the necessity for all parties to pursue a common path enjoys a high level of priority. The discussion was continued throughout the year, which resulted in improved mutual understanding for the needs of the others and a clear catalogue of requirements. This, in turn, now serves as a starting point for the EU Commission’s other activities.
Progress was made but the goal has not yet been reached. In the planned update event in Brussels, the intention is to continue the dialogue more rigorously and find goal-oriented solutions.
The German Copper Institute (Deutsches Kupferinstitut Berufsverband e.V.) has assumed the task of administrative support again for the event in 2016. For many years, the German Copper Institute has been responsible for the tasks in the drinking water sector at the request of the European Copper Institute (ECI) and the European semi-finished copper industry and also represents this important sector accordingly while also taking all involved parties into consideration.
It is still possible to register for the one-day event until 4 May 2016. Further information can be obtained by going to http://bit.ly/1payQqr or by writing to info@copperalliance.de.
The event is free for employees of the national or European regulatory sector; industry representatives have a fee of €290.00.
Article 10 of the Drinking Water Directive demands that member states guarantee the hygienic safety of materials and products that come into contact with drinking water. However, appropriate consensus and implementation at the European level also require a common agreement concerning their free market access. Until now, there has not been any legislative framework whatsoever which takes both of these aspects into account.
In light of this, a group of European associations - the European Union of National Associations of Water Suppliers (EurEau), Plastics Europe as well as Aqua Europa as an association for the manufacturers of products in the drinking water sector and the European Copper Institute (ECI) - discussed possible solutions together with the industry and both national and EU regulatory authorities at a relevant session in May 2015. There, it became clear that the necessity for all parties to pursue a common path enjoys a high level of priority. The discussion was continued throughout the year, which resulted in improved mutual understanding for the needs of the others and a clear catalogue of requirements. This, in turn, now serves as a starting point for the EU Commission’s other activities.
Progress was made but the goal has not yet been reached. In the planned update event in Brussels, the intention is to continue the dialogue more rigorously and find goal-oriented solutions.
The German Copper Institute (Deutsches Kupferinstitut Berufsverband e.V.) has assumed the task of administrative support again for the event in 2016. For many years, the German Copper Institute has been responsible for the tasks in the drinking water sector at the request of the European Copper Institute (ECI) and the European semi-finished copper industry and also represents this important sector accordingly while also taking all involved parties into consideration.
It is still possible to register for the one-day event until 4 May 2016. Further information can be obtained by going to http://bit.ly/1payQqr or by writing to info@copperalliance.de.
The event is free for employees of the national or European regulatory sector; industry representatives have a fee of €290.00.
