# C_2004273EN.01000201.xml

| 6.11.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 273/2 |
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JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Third Chamber)

of 16 September 2004

in Case C-248/02: Commission of the European Communities v Italian Republic( 1 )

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Pollution and nuisance - Sol protection - Sewage sludge - Forwarding of incomplete information for the years 1995 to 1997 - Articles 10 and 17 of Directive 86/278/EEC)

(2004/C 273/03)

Language of the case: Italian

In Case C-248/02: Commission of the European Communities (Agents: H. Støvlbæk and R Amorosi) v Italian Republic (Agent: I.M. Braguglia, assisted by M. Fiorilli) the Court (Third Chamber), composed of: A. Rosas, acting as President of the Third Chamber, R. Schintgen and K. Schiemann (Rapporteur), Judges; C- Stix-Hackl, Advocate General; R. Grass, Registrar, gave a judgment on 16 September 2004, the operative part of which is as follows:

| 1. | By not providing any information on the average annual value for concentrations (mg/kg dry matter) of heavy metal (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury and chromium) and of the elements nitrogen and phosphorus contained in sewage sludge;
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by failing to provide any information as to quantity (t/year) of sewage sludge produced as dry matter; —
by failing to provide the necessary information as to the quantity of sludge used annually in agriculture as dry matter, except in regard to the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1995 to 1997), the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (1995), Emilia Romagna, Liguria and Calabria, in respect of which it was indicated that sewage sludge was not used in agriculture; —
by failing to ensure that the registers in which the composition and characteristics of the sludge are entered by reference to the parameters referred to in Annex II as to Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture are properly updated, and —
by failing to ensure that the registers in which the quantities of sludge produced (with regard to the whole of Italy) and the sludge used in agriculture, at least with regard to Abruzzo, Campania, Tuscany and Sicily are entered are properly updated, the Italian Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 10(1)(a) and (b) and 17 of Directive 86/728, as amended by Council Directive 91/692/EEC of 23 December 1991, which seeks to standardise and to rationalise reports on the implementation of certain directives concerning the environment. | — | by failing to provide any information as to quantity (t/year) of sewage sludge produced as dry matter; | — | by failing to provide the necessary information as to the quantity of sludge used annually in agriculture as dry matter, except in regard to the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1995 to 1997), the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (1995), Emilia Romagna, Liguria and Calabria, in respect of which it was indicated that sewage sludge was not used in agriculture; | — | by failing to ensure that the registers in which the composition and characteristics of the sludge are entered by reference to the parameters referred to in Annex II as to Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture are properly updated, and | — | by failing to ensure that the registers in which the quantities of sludge produced (with regard to the whole of Italy) and the sludge used in agriculture, at least with regard to Abruzzo, Campania, Tuscany and Sicily are entered are properly updated, |
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| — | by failing to provide any information as to quantity (t/year) of sewage sludge produced as dry matter; | | | | | | | | |
| — | by failing to provide the necessary information as to the quantity of sludge used annually in agriculture as dry matter, except in regard to the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1995 to 1997), the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (1995), Emilia Romagna, Liguria and Calabria, in respect of which it was indicated that sewage sludge was not used in agriculture; | | | | | | | | |
| — | by failing to ensure that the registers in which the composition and characteristics of the sludge are entered by reference to the parameters referred to in Annex II as to Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture are properly updated, and | | | | | | | | |
| — | by failing to ensure that the registers in which the quantities of sludge produced (with regard to the whole of Italy) and the sludge used in agriculture, at least with regard to Abruzzo, Campania, Tuscany and Sicily are entered are properly updated, | | | | | | | | |

| 2. | The Italian Republic is ordered to pay the costs. |
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( 1 )  OJ C 202 of 24.8.2002.

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