ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(74)1706
Vol.1974/0271

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COMMISSION OFTHBEUROFSANCQMMLWIIES
COM(74)1706final
Brussels.21October1974
PROPOSAL FORA
DECISIONOPTHECOUNCIL
ontheredactionofpollutioncaused "bycertaindangerous
■
substancesdischargedintotheaquaticenvironmentoftheCommunity
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission)
C0M(74)1706final

ENV/204/74E
BACKGROUND
1.Within thelast several months ,three important conventions con­
cerning water-pollution have "been tinder discussion within different
frameworks .They are :
A.l)TheConvention fortheprevention ofmarine pollution from
land-based sources ,hereafter referred toasthe "Paris
Convention ";
2)Adraft European Convention fortheprotection ofinternational
■freshwaters against pollution ,worked outtinder theauspicies
oftheCouncil ofEurope ,hereafter referred toasthe
"Strasbourg Convention ";
3)Adraft Convention fortheprotection oftheRhine against
chemical pollution ,prepared "bytheInternational Commission for
- theprotection oftheRhine against pollution ,hereafter referred
toasthe "Rhine Convention ".
2.Member States oftheCommunity have participated orareparticipating
intheelaboration ofallthree -Conventions andwill beinvolved ,as
necessary ,inthedevelopment ofpollution –abatement programmes ,(l)
(l)Thestates participating indrawing upthefinal text oftheParis
Convention were :
Belgium ,Denmark ,Federal Republic ofGermany ,France ,Ireland ,
Luxembourg ,Netherlands ,theUnited Kingdom ,andItaly observers .
Thestates participating indrawing upthedraft test oftheStrasbourg
Convention are :
Belgium ,Federal Republic ofGermany ,France ,Italy andtheNetherlands .
IntheInternational Commission fortheprotection oftheRhine
against pollution theparticipating countries are :
Federal Republic ofGermany ,France ,Luxembourg andtheNetherlands .

-2-ETV/204/74E
3.The Paris Convention and theStrasbourg Convention have already
"been the subject ofcommunications from theCommission totheCouncil
"(Ref.COM (74)502final andSEC (74)1564final ).Inboth cases the
Council has been asked to :
(i)authorize theCommunity assuch toadhere totheConvent ions
inquestion ,
(ii)todecide that theCommission will participate inbodies which
maybesetup,either onatemporary orapermanent basis ,
administer thesaid Conventions and topropose thenecessary pol–
lution-abatement programmes ,
4.AsthetwoCommunications from theCommission totheCouncil make
clear ,onefundamental reason fortheCommunity assuch toadhere to
theParis and theStrasbourg Conventions istheneed forallMember
states whoare ,orwhomaybe,signatories tooneorother ofthe
Conventions toapproach their obligations inthe same way .
Within theframework ofeach Convention ,Member states will need 'to
adopt pollution-abatement measures ,which inorder tobeself-
consistent should bobroadly similar both asfarastiming isconcerned
aswell astheseverity ofthemeasures adopted .Theadhesion ofthe
Community tothese Conventions andthepresence oftheCommission of
theEuropean Communities onthemanaging bodies oftheConventions
will facilitate toaconsiderable extent the existence ofsuclx consis­
tency .Asfar asthedraft Convention ontheprevention oftheRhine
against chemical pollution isconcerned ,though this hasnotyetbeen
thesubject ofacommunication from theCommission totheCouncil ,
here toothere will clearly beaneed forMember states whosign this
Convention tofollow ,acommon line initseventual execution .
5.Among thereasons which justify thenecessity ofharmonizing the
approach ofMember states to ,their obligations inone orother
framework ,istheneed toensure that theactual pollution-abatement
programmes that areproposed are consistent with each other .

ENV/204/74E
-3-
Each convention proposes alist ofsubstances ,whose discharge is-to
becontrolled .Each convention proposes atime-table –some substances
aretobebrought under control more quickly andmore severely than
others .Each convention proposes machinery toassist intheimplemen­
tation ofprogrammes .Butthefact isthat there arecertain incon­
sistencies (andeven contradictions )between thethree conventions not
only where thelist ofsubstances isconcerned ,butalso inrespect of
thebasic cons-fcraixrts andtiming ofthepollution-abatement programmes ,
and the modalities ofexecution .
•Adetailed analysis ofthedifferences between thethree Conventions is
given intheAxm&x ,Ifthezones ofapplication ofthethree Conventions
were totally distinct onefrom theother theexistence ofsuch dif­
ferences and inconsistencies might beless serious than itis.But in
fact thesubject ofthethree Conventions overlaps incertain aspects .
TheParis Convention ,forexample ,regulates pollution oftheseafrom
land–based sources .Themost important type ofland–based pollution of
theseaispollution carried byrivers andwater courses .Thus ,pol-
lution-abatement programmes devised within theframework oftheParis
Convention will necessarily apply toallrivers reaching thesea
insofar asthey carry asignificant pollution-load .International
rivers ,that istosayrivers which cross afrontier ,will ofcourse be
thesubject ofpollution-abatement programmes proposed within the
framework oftheStrasbourg Convention .(TheRhine itself will be
subject notonly toStrasbourg butalso ,asfaraschemical pollution
isconcerned ,to/itsownspecial Convention ).Moreover ,thepollution -
abatement programmes proposed intheframework oftheStrasbourg
Convention must also apply towholly national rivers wich arethetri­
butaries oraffluents ofinternational rivers ,since thepollution-load
ofinternational rivers will inpart arise from thestreams which feed
them .
•" \

-4-S),TV/20A/7413
7.Itcam "beseen therefore howdifficult itwill be#infact ,to
operate these three Conventions asifthey hadtotally separate zones
ofapplication# Even ifonesuch application were infaot possible ,
itwould create difficulties from theCommunity 'spoint ofview .
Following theadoption "bytheCouncil inNovember 1973 oftheAction
Programme ontheEnvironment ,theCommission hasamandate itself
topropose apollution-abatement programme inrespect ofoertain toxic
ordangerous substances which maybe,orwhich arebeing ,discharged
into inland orcoastal waters .This Community programme must of
necessity beanintegral programme concerned with allaspects ofthe
aquatic environment .TheCommunity programme cannot maintain anarti­
ficial distinction between national and international rivers ordraw
arigid distinction between coastal waters andtherivers which
enter these waters .
8.Thepurpose ofthis Communication ,andtheproposal fordecision of
theCouncil istherefore two-fold :thepursuit ofaooherent approach
for member States for all three Conventions and atthe same time to
fulfil thedemand oftheEnvironment Council ofNovember 1973 *In
adopting thedecision which follows member States would ,thereforei
notonly behelping toimplement theEEC'sEnvironment programme *
They would atthesame time bemeeting inanorderly and intelligent
waytheobligations whioh they have assumed ,orwhich they areabout
toassume ,inthecontext oftheParis ,Strasbourg andRhine Conventions .
9.Theproposal fordeoision oftheCouncil covers :
(a)alist ofsubstances whose disoharge istobecontrolled ;
(b)theconstraints tobeapplied with this aimandthetiming
tobefollowed ; .
(c)themodalities ofexecution ,and
(d)theobligations ofmember States .

ENV/204/74E
-5-
10.SuchactionisnecessaryinordertocarryouttheCommunity'saction
prograireneontheenvironment •
SincethereisnoparticulararticleintheTreatywhichgivesthe
necessarybasisforaction,thedecisionmustbefoundedonArticle235#
11•Accordingtotheprovisionsofthisarticle,theopinionofthe
EuropeanParliamentisrequiredandtheEconomicandSocialCom­
mitteemustalsobeconsulted-

ENV/204/74E
ANNEX
Comparative analysis oftheParis andStrasbourg Conventions and .thedraft
Convention fortheprotection oftheRhine againt chemical pollution
1•Prevention ofmarine pollution from land-based sources
Under this Convention ,thecontracting parties pledge themselves to
take measures individually orjointly toreduce marine pollution from
land–based sources andtoforestall nowpollution .This undertaking
will becarried outunder programmes drawn upbyacentral adminis­
trative body known asthe "Commission "•Thepollutants covered by
theConvention arespecified inAnnex Aandclassified inthree ca­
tegories onthebasis oftheir persistence ,toxicity andtendency to
accumulate inliving organisms .
Under Article 4oftheConvention ,thecontracting parties undertake :
(a)toeliminate ,ifnecessary bystages ,pollution ofthemaritime
area from land-based discharges ofsubstances listed inPart I
oftheAnnex A; v
(b)tolimit strictly pollution ofthemaritime area from land-based
discharges ofthesubstances listed inPart IIofAnnex A•
2•Protection ofinternational freshwaters against pollution
Inthisdraft convention ,theMember States oftheCouncil ofEurope
whosign theconvention -will undertake :

-2- ENV/20V74-E
(a)toendeavour totake forthesurface waters oftheir territory
every appropriate measure toreduce existing pollution and to
prevent newforms ofpollution ofwaters (Article 2);
(b)toapply tointernational watercourses either individual standards
defined inpart inAnnex III ,orminimum standards defined in
Annex I(Article k).
Inaddition ,the .discharging into thewaters ofinternational drainage
basins ofdangerous ornoxious substances listed inAnnex IItothe
Convention will beprohibited orlimited according tocertain
conditions .
3.Chemical pollution ofthe Rhine
Athird initiative ofthesame type tocombat chemical pollution of
theRhine has been taken bythesignatory States oftheBerne
Convention cathepollution oftheRhine waters .Attherequest of
theMinisterial Conference ofriparian States oftheRhine ,which
met inTheHague inOctober 1972 ,theInternational Commission was
instructed to:
(a)draw uplists ofsubstances whose discharge must beproiiibited ,
limited ormade subject tocertain conditions (taking into
account theprovisions oftheOslo Convention of15February 1972 )
(b)investigate theorigin ofthese substances ;
(c)draw upaprogramme ofaction tobecarried outinstages ,
providing formonitoring ,limitation and ,where appropriate ,
prohibition ofdischarges oftnese substances .:

-3-EHV/204/74E
Thelist containing substances whose discharge istobeprohibited ,
limited orsubject tocertain conditions ,wasapproved bytheSecond
Ministerial Conference concerning theprotection oftheRhine against
pollutionj which washeld inBonn onthe4thand5thDecember 1973 .
The results ofthis work will have tobesubmitted tothe Ministers
forapproval atthenext Ministerial Conference ofriparian States of
theRhine ,which will beheld inParis inDecember 1974 »they are
intended toform the basis ofaconvention between these States ,
4.Impact ofthemeasures upon theEuropean Communities' program.-' ,e
4.1Theobjectives
Even though thepurpose ofthevarious conventions issimilar inthat
they allaim toreduoe existing levels ofpollution caused bythe
presence ofdangerous substances intheaquatic environment ,itshould
nevertheless bepointed outthat ;
(1)theParis Convention applies tothemaritime area oftheWorth Sea
andtheNorth^East Atlantic .Ittakes account only indirectly of
pollution reduction ininland watercourses ;
(2)theStrasbourg Convention applies only tointernational watercourses
andtheir estuaries .Itlays down minimum (immission )standards
Annex l),individual (immission )standards (Annex 3)andprohibits
orlimits discharges ofdangerous ornoxious substances (Annex 2);
(3)theConvention onchemical pollution oftheRhine isconcerned
exclusively with theriver and itstributaries andwill also prohibit
orlimit discharges ofcertain chemical substances according toa
selective inventory ofdischarges containing these substances .
/

4J2JV/204/74E
4«2 Constraints
Asregards precise andoperational commitments ,itshould bepointed
outthat theParis Convention provides forspecific actions "forthe
reduction or,asappropriate ,elimination ofpollution ofthemaritime
area from land–based sources bysubstances listed inPart IIofAnnex A".
"These substances shall bedischarged only after approval hasbeen
granted bytheappropriate authorities "(Article 4(2)(b).
Thetext oftheParis Convention remains rather vague however ,onthe
subject ofthesubstances listed inPart IofAnnex A,although these
substances areconsidered tobethemost dangerous andforthis reason
tomerit priority action .
The strict application andrigid interpretation ofthecommitments
resulting from Article 4(l)(a )would necessitate adetailed study for
each maritime area toestablish theeffect ofpollution discharged into
inland waters upon thepollution ofthat zone .
This study would have totake into account particularly :
–hydraulic data andseasonal variations inthewaters ofthebasin
flowing into themaritime area ;
–thevolume ofpollutants discharged into inland waters and the
discharge points inrelation totheir distance from themaritime area j
–theregime ofwinds andtides •
Article 5(2)oftheStrasbourg Convention states ,onthesubject ofthe ■■■
noxious ordangerous substances listed inAnnex 2,that where acontracting
party isnotable togive immediate effect totheprovisions -ofthe
preceding paragraph (prohibition orlimitation ofdischarges ),itmust
take steps todosowithin areasonable period .
Since thetext onchemical pollution oftheRhine hasnotyetbeen fina­
lized ,itisnotpossible tospecify what restrictions this Convention ,
will impose ,

-5-E^/204/74E
4.3IttvcIorienting procedures . i
Γ*·« II–ιβ-Ι·1 – »·Μ
Toensure -that theobligations arising from theParis Convention are
carried outproperly ,asingle andpermanent Commission will besetup,
butnoequivalent body isprovided forbytheStrasbourg Convention ,
Article 14ofwhioh states that thecontracting parties will decide to
setupanInternational Commission foreach hydrological basin ,ifsuch'
abody does not .already exist .These commissions will beempowered to
take fortheir particular hydrologioal basin allthemeasures provided
forinArticle 15oftheConvention .
Inthe case ofthe Convention onChemical Pollution ofthe Rhine the execu­
tive body will betheInternational Commission fortheProtection ofthe
Rhine against Pollutions Itshould benoted that this body will have the
same executive task under theStrasbourg Convention .
4*4Time scales
Non-coordinated application oftheConventions considered could lead
todiffering time–tables .forthe -attainment oftheir objectives .
IntheStrasbourg Convention ,thetiming isleft tothejudgment ofeach
signatory State (Article 2),whereas intheConvention onpollution from
land–based sources ,thetime-limit istobefixed bythe "Commission "
(Article 16).
According tothedraft convention toprevent chemical pollution ofthe
Rhine ,twoperiods maybelaid down :arelatively short onefor ;drawing ,
uptheinventory ofdischarges ,andalonger .oneforcompletion ofthe
installations necessary forthereduction ofdischarges .-
4.5Lists ofsubstances ooyered bythese conventions
Thelists inthethree conventions arecompared inTables 1and 2,
Thefirst table compares thedifferent lists ,while thesecond table
lists all the substances mentioned ineach convention and shows the
lists inwhich they appear ,arranged ,indecreasing order ofseverity .

ENV/20V74-E
Table 1:Comparative table oftheEuropean Conventions onthe
protection ofwaters against pollution
Category
of
substancesStrasbourg Convention Paris Convention–T
I
Rhine Commission i
l
List A
or
Part I
or
List IPersistent organohalogen
compounds and substances
which nay form such
compounds inthe aquatic
environmentOrganohalogen
compounds and sub­
stances which may
form such compounds
inthe marine
environment ,excluding
those which are
biologically harmless
orwhich are rapidly
converted inthe sea
into substances which
arebiologically
Jharmless
IOrganohalogen j
compounds and !
compounds liable '
toform such {
substances in !
waters \
!
î
I
t
X
(
î
*
\
J
Organophosphorus
compounds"' "
Organotm compounds
"'"With theexception
ofthose compounds
which arerapidly
converted inwater
into biologically
harmless substances IOrganophosphorus I
pesticides -^.; i
Organot inpesticides ^
1 »
With theexception j
ofthose compounds
which arerapidly
coilverted inwater
into biologically j
harmless substances I
Persistent toxic
organosilicon compoundsOrganosilicon i
compounds and |
compounds likely to i
form such substances 1
inwaters j
t
Substances whose
carcinogenic activity
isexhibited inorby
the intervention ofthe
aquatic environmentSubstances whose j
carcinogenic activity
isrecognized .
scientifically ' !
Mercury and its compounds
Cadmium and itscompoundsuercury and aercury
compounds
Cadmium and cadmium
compoundsLercury and compound .
Cadmium andcompounds
i
1

2**
-•\••ENV/204 -/7H-E
.I
Category
of
substances!'' Ί
StrasbourgConvention' ParisConvention' RhineCommission
ListA
or
PartX
or
ListIPersistentsynthetic
materialswhichmay
float,remainin
suspensionorsink
andwhichnay
seriously'interfere
withanylegitimate
useoftheseai-
i
Persistentoilsand
hydrocarbons origi­
natingfrompetroleum
ListB
or
PartII
or
ListIIThefollowing
metalloid andmetals
andtheircompounds :
zinc,lead,copper,
nickel,chromium,
selenium,arsenic,
antimony,molybdenum ,
tin,barium,titanium,
vanadium,beryllium ,
uraniumThelollowmgelements
andtheircompounds :
arsenic,lead,nickel,
zinc,chromium,
copper S!Hetals,metalloids I
andtheircompounds
suchaszinc,coppei
nickel,chromium,
lead,selenium,
arsenic,antimony,
molybdenum ,barium,
beryllium ,l?oron,i
uranium,vanadium
î 1
(
Biocidesandtheir
derivatives whichdo
notappearinListABiocidesandtheir
derivatives not
mentionedinthe j
provisions ofList1;
i■■■'■k .i...... –
Substances whichhave
adeleterious effecton
tasteandsmell
iSubstances whichhave
beenagreedbythe
Commission ashaving
adeleterious effect
onthetasteand/or
smellofproducts
derivedfromthemarina
environment for
humanconsumptionSubstanceswhichmajj
impartanunpleasant !
tasteorsmelland
compoundslikelytcj
formsuchsubstances
inwaters
it
l'
I
._. :_I

ΕΝν/204/74-Ε
t
Category
of
substancesL ._ .. !
!Strasbourg Convention iParis Convention Rhine Commission
! ;________ | i. .
List B |
or I
i
Pc.rt II
or |
List II ISubstances which ,byreason
ofnew ,more extensive or
|asyetunknown uses ,would
beliable toexert an
ladverse effect upon the
quality ofsurface v/aters
and new substances which
might bedeveloped and
used inamanner which
could seriously threaten
thequality ofsurface
watersi
|
i .;
i
■■■■■ ι... |
!
i
- ■ • I ■ ■':
|
Organic compounds of j
phosphorus ,silicon 1
landtinandsub- !
istances which may forraj
jsuch compounds inthe \
jmarine environment , ,
•excluding those which ;
;arebiologically ]
'harmless orwhich are j
jrapidly converted in j
ithe seainto harmless I
isubstances !
ί■■– – "" 1- - ■ ■ 1 –
jElemental phosphorus j
[Non-persistent oils Mineral oils
jandhydrocarbons of j
jpetroleum origin j
I
I(Cyanides and
•fluorides
Part III
or .
List III
(beige )Radioactive sub­
stances ,including
wastes
!
ISubstances having an
adverse effect onthe
oxygen balance ,
ammonia ,nitrites
[Nitrates j
i
»–– _ ' II ι
['• .. •
!' *"Substances which by
intensive use are
liable to'beserious
threat tothe quality
and use ofwaters
inwhich they appear .
Calcium .^ndmagnesium
sulphates and .chlorides
phosphates

-k- ENV/20V7'>-E
Table 2
i
Substances (following theorder ofthe
Strasbourg Convention )Strasbourg
ConventionParis
Convention|Rhini !
!Commission !
; i
Persistent organohalogen compounds and
substances which may form such
compounds intheaquatic environmentA/
.■I ,1
Persistent toxic organosilicon
compoundsA.1n.i .I : r
! •i I
Organophosphorus compounds Ln.i.-1- I
Organotin compounds n.i.l I
Substances whose carcinogenic activity -
isexhibited inor .,bytheinterven - j
tion oftheaquatic mediumA.1n.i . I
Mercury anditscompounds jA I I
Cadmium anditscompounds ' . ! A * I
Metals .and metalloids
1
zinc j
copper , j
nickel • {
-chromium
lead !
selenium ,
arsenic
antimony
molybdenum
tin
barium
titanium
vanadium
béryllium
uraniumΒ
Β
.Β
Β
Β
'Β · |
Β
Β
Β
•Β · '
Β
Β
Β
Β
ΒII
II
II
II
II ,
n.i .
11.1
η.ι...
n.i ...
*X
.ι
n.i ...
n.i ...
''n.i .,
n.i ...
n.i .II
II
.II
II
II
II
II
II
II
II
II
II •
II
II
II
Biocides and their derivatives which
donot appear inList AΒ-1
! n.i .
I
II II i
!... .1
Substances Which have anadverse
effect ontaste orsmell...β- ,X.Γ ^
II
Substances which ,byreason ofnew ,
rnbre extensive orasyet unknown uses
would beliable tohave anadverse
effect upon the quality ofsurface
waters ,andnewsubstances which might
bedeveloped andused inamanner which
could seriously threaten thequality
ofsurface watersΓ"- ■* "
I
Β.1n.i .
i-
.ιn.i .

-5- ENV/20V7H-E
Substances (following theorder ofthe
Strasbourg Convention )Γ
[Strasbourg
'ConventionParis
ConventionIRhine
Commission
Persistent synthetic substances which
may float ,remain insuspension or
sink andmay seriously interfere with
anylegitimate uses ofthe sea.1n.i . I
I.1n.i .
Persistent oils andhydrocarbons of |
petroleum origin j.1
In.i . I II
Cyanides and fluorides.1n.i . n.i . II
Radioactive substances mcluding
wastes.1n.i . III.1n.i .
Substances having anadverse effect
onthe oxygen balance
ammonia ,nitritesn.i ..1n.i . III
!Nitrates r •1n.i ..1n.i . III
Substances which byintensive use are
liable tobeaserious threat tothe !
quality anduse ofwaters inwhich
they appear ;calcium andmagnesium
sulphates and chlorides ,phosphates^ v,•1
i n.i .
I
i
I.1n.i . III
Organic compounds ofphosphorus ,
silicon and tin and substances which
may form such compounds inthe
marine environment with the
exception ofthose which are
biologically harmless orwhich are
rapidly converted inthesea into
harmless substances1
!
.1 i
n.i . II.1n.i .
Elemental phosphorus jjn.i.-1-II n.i .
Non-persistent oils andhydrocarbons
ofpetroleum origin.1n.i . II.1n.i .
Boron n.i .3- in.i.-1- |
III
Not included inthe Convention .

ENV/204/74E
PROPOSALFORDECISION OPTHECOUNCIL
fclNTHEREDUCTIONOFPOLLUTIONCAUSED
BYCERTAINDANGEROUS SUBSTANCES DISCHARGED
INTOTHEAQUATICENVIRONMENT OFTHECOMMUNITY

ENV/204/74E
THECOUNCIL OPTHE EUROPE."J !COITI'TOIITIES f
Having regard ,totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Communities ,and
inparticular Article 235thereof ;
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ;
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEuropean Parliament }
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ;
Whereas there isanurgent need forgeneral andsimultaneous action
bythe Member States toprotect theaquatic environment oftheCommunity
from pollution ,particularly pollution bycertain persistent ,toxic or
bioaocumulable substances ;
Whereas anumber ofconventions ,andinparticular theConvention for
theprevention ofmarine pollution from land–based sources andthe
proposed European Convention fortheprotection ofinternational fresh -
waters against pollution aredesigned toprotect international water­
courses and themarine environment from pollution andthat itis
important toassure that actions taken within theframework ofthese
conventions arecoordinated ;
Whereas Community action toreduce thedischarge ofcertain dangerous
substances into theaquatic environment ,aswell astocoordinate the
actions ofMember States inthis matter isnecessary inorder toachieve ,
inthecontext ofthefunctioning ofthecommon market ,theobjectives
oftheCommunity regarding theconstant improvement ofliving conditions
and theharmonious development ofeconomic activities troughout the
Community jandthat thepowers ofaction required inthis matter were
not foreseen bytheTreaty :

1TaisENV/204/74E
Whereas theEuropean Communities' programme ofaction ontheenvironment
(l)provides forpriority to "begiven tocontrolling discharges of
certain pollutants into fresh water ;
Whereas aninventory ofdangerous substances discharged into the
Communitys *aquatic environment requires knowledge oftheir origin j
Whereas inorder toensure aneffective protection ofthe environment
itisnecessary toestablish alist ofdangerous -}substances whose
discharge into theCommunitys' aquatio environment should hecontrolled
orregulated ;
Whereas inorder toallow complete application ofthepresent decision ,
theCouncil should ^within precise time limits adopt certain thresholds ,
time limifcs ,andlimiting values *
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION
OJC112 ,20December 1973 »p«17

*2-EW/204/74E
Article1IDefinitionandfieldofapplication
ForthepurposesofthepresentDecision,thefollowingisunderstoodt
1)"by"aquaticenvironmentoftheCommunity",allrunningorstaticfresh
waterswhichflowthroughtheterritoriesofoneormoreMember
states,includingcanalsandlakes,aswellasunderwaterpipelines
andotherpipelines,zoneswithinfreswaterlimitsandtheseasof
theCommunityooasts•
2)by"freshwaterlimit"theplaceinthewaterooursewhere,atlow
tideandinaperiodoflowfreshwaterflow,-thesalinityisap­
preciablyincreasedbythepresenoeofseawater.
Article2:Inventory ' •.i'.
1.TheMemberStatesshalldrawupaninventoryofdischargesintothe
aquatioenvironmentoftheCommunitywhichcontainthesubstances "in
ListsIIandIIoftheAnnex,whichformsanintegralpartofthis
Decision.
2*ThisinventoryshallbedrawnupbymemberStateswithinaperiod
ofoneyearfromtheestablishment ofthresholdlevelsandshall
includealldischargeswhichexceedtheselevels.
Article3tConstraints
TheMemberStatestakeallthemeasuresneeded'toforestallorreduce
i. »
pollutionoftheaquaticenvironmentoftheCommunitybythesubstances
listedinAnnex,underthefollowingconditionst

ENV/204/74E
»
A.1)Alldischarges into theaquatic environment oftheCorner *"it7tVsvfc
areliable tocontain asubstance appearing inList IoftheAnr.ex
andareincluded intheinventory provided for inArticle 2shall
require prior administrative authorization bythecompetent
authority intheMember State concerned .
This authorization maybegranted only ifthedischarges ofthese
substances arereduced tothelimiting values tobefixed .
2)Theinstallations toobtain thenecessary reductions shall be
completed within aperiod tobe .fixed foreach substance inthe
Annex onthe basis ofthe best technical facilities inexistence .
3)Ifthebest technical facilities donotenable thedischarges to
bereduced toanon-dangerous level orifthelimiting values
referred toinparagraph 1ofthepresent article cannot be '
adhered to,thedischarge isprohibited ,
B.1)Alldischarges into theaquatic environment oftheCommunity
which contain substances appearing inList IIoftheAnnex and
areincluded intheinventory provided for inArticle 2shall be
reduced tolimiting values tobefixed forsubstances ofnatural
andartificial origin .
2)Theinstallations necessary toachieve therequired reductions
shall becompleted within period tobefixed .
Article 4
Thefollowing will beadopted bytheCouncillor qTt&lifi&d ^
Connirsion 1
–within aperiod of18months after theadoption ofthepresent decision }
thetreshold values foreseen byArticle 2»2,thelimiting values
foreseen byArticle 3A.landthetime-scale foreseen byArticle 3A^,
–within aperiod of30months after theadoption ofthepresent decision j
thelimiting values foreseen byArticle 3B.1andthetime-scale
foreseen byArticle 3<B^2'

ENV/P04/74E
-4-"
Article 5
Theapplication ofthemeasures taken byvirtue ofthepresent decision
maynotunder anycircumstances directly orindirectly lead toan ■
increase inthedegradation oftheExisting quality oftheCommunity 's
aquatic environment . ''
Article o
The Member States shall forward tothe Commission :
a)theresults oftheinventory provided for ,inArticle 2andof
surveillance andmonitoring "bythenational network ;
b)theinformation available ,inasdetailed a.form aspossible ,on
the substances listed intheAnnex tothis Decision and liable tobe
discharged into theaquatic environment oftheCommunity ,
Article 7
This Decision isaddressed totheMember States .
Done at the

ENV/20V7^-E
ANNEX
List I
Organohalogen compounds and substances which may form such compounds
intheaquatic environment ,excluding those which arebiologically
harmless orarerapidly converted inwater into harmless substances .
Organophosphorus compounds ^"
Organotin compounds"' "
Toxic ,persistent organosilicon compounds and compounds liable to
form such substances infresh water and insea water .
Substances whose carcinogenic activity isexhibited inorbythe
intervention oftheaquatic environment .
Mercury and its compounds
Cadmium anditscompounds
Persistent synthetic substances which may float ,rfemain in
suspension orsink andwhich mayinterfere witli anyuseofthe
waters .
Persistent oils andhydrocarbons ofpetroleum origin .
With the exception ofthose which arerapidly converted inthe
aquatic environment into substances which arebiologically
harmless .

-2- ENV/20V7^-E
ANNEX..
ListII
Thefollowingmetalloidsandmetalsandtheircompounds
zinc .
copper
nickel
chromium
leadselenium
arsenic
antimony
molybdenum
titaniumtm
barium
béryllium
boron
uraniumvanadium
•fcellurium
thalium
oobalt
Biocidesandtheirderivatives notappearinginListI
Substanceswhichhaveadeleteriouseffectonthetasteand/or
smellofproductsforhumanconsumption derivedfromtheaquatic
environment ,andcompoundsliabletogiverisetosuchsubstances
inwaters.
Organiccompoundsofphosphorus ,andsiliconandsubstanceswhichmay
•giverisetosuchcompoundsinwaters,excludingthosewhich
arebiologically harmlessorarerapidlyconvertedinwaterinto
harmlesssubstances .
Elementalphosphorus
Non-persistent oilsandhydrocarbons ofpetroleumorigin
Cyanidesandfluorides

-3- ΕΝν/20ν74-Ε
ΑΝΝΕΧ
Substances whichhaveanadverseeffectontheoxygen ,balances
Aamonia,nitrites
Nitrates
Substanceswhichbyintensiveuseareliabletobeaseriousthreat
tothequalityanduseofwatersinwhichtheyappearjsulphates,
andchloridesofcalciumofmagnesium *phosphates <
Substances which,byreasonofnew,moreextensiveorasyet
unknownuses,wouldbeliabletohaveanadverseeffectonthe
qualityofwaters,andnewsubstances whichmightbedeveloped
andusedinamannerwhichcouldseriouslythreatenthequality
ofwaters.