Materials intended for contact with Drinking Water Directive (DWD) 2020/2184

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The Drinking Water Directive requires that the constituents, compositions and starting substances of the materials used in the manufacture of products intended to come into contact with drinking water (from the water source to the tap) must be on one of the four European Positive Lists.

Materials that come int contact with drinking water are handled according to food safety regulations.

The European Commission has adopted positive lists for four different types of materials that come into contact with drinking water:

  • establishment plan (Decision 2024/367 Annex I)
  • metallic; (Decision 2024/367, Annex II)
  • cement; (Decision 2024/367 Annex III)
  • enamel, ceramics or other inorganic materials. (Decision 2024/367, Annex IV)

Please note that the Decision will apply from 31/12/2026 and that from 13/07/2021 and 31/12/2026 Article 3 of Decision 2024/367 (Transitional provisions) is in force.

The positive list of organic materials incorporates the list of plastic food contact materials set out in Annex I to the Commission Regulation on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food ((EU) No 10/2011).

Characteristics of the European Positive Lists

There are some characteristics that apply to all European positive lists.

  • EUPL number: Each entry has a unique 4-digit European positive list (EUPL) number
  • Expiry date: Each entry in a positive list is assigned an expiry date for the permission to use the substance in manufacturing materials in contact with drinking water.
  • Conditions of use of a listed starting substance, composition or constituent: specific conditions, maximum permissible concentration limits (MTCtap). This includes chemical compounds that are present as impurities or as a reaction product.

Economic operators must apply to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for reviews or additions to the EPLs. The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) evaluates these applications, and the European Commission decides on their inclusion, amendment, or removal.

For more details or assistance, contact MTIC InterCert. As a notified body and accredited test laboratory certification expert, we are here to assist you.

Mail: info@mtic-group.org