Scientific Opinion Paper on the upcoming European Soil Health Law
In this scientific opinion paper on “The upcoming European Soil Health Law – chances and challenges for an
effective soil protection”, the German Environment Agency (?UBA?) lays down its key recommendations for the
upcoming Soil Health Law. Feedback on legislative options is provided and experience gained in Germany on soil
protection and restoration is shared. Knowing the outstanding importance of soils for human and ecosystem health,
UBA strongly agrees that a new binding European legislative framework on soils with high ambition is urgently
needed.
Link
COMMON FORUM Spring Meeting 2023
SAVE THE DATE
31 May – 2 June 2023
Stockholm, Sweden
Hosted by the Swedish Environment Protection Agency with sediment management as one of the topics!
Please contact the COMMON FORUM Secretariat until 21 February 2023 for suggesting your contribution and further
topics.
Link
REMINDER: AquaConSoil 2023 – Deadline for abstract submission next week!
AquaConSoil will be back to the real world as physical meeting by 11 – 15 September 2023 in Prague (Czech
Republic). Since 1985 it is a bi-yearly event where scientists, policy- and decision-makers and industry
representatives gather to learn, share and engage on sustainable use and management of soil, sediment and water
resources.
The deadline for abstract submission is Tuesday 31 January 2023. Check out the topics and guidelines on how to
submit your abstract on the AquaConSoil 2023 homepage under this
Link
Soil monitoring in Europe – Indicators and thresholds for soil health assessments
European soils are under increasing pressure and comprehensive monitoring to asses soil health is lacking.
Published on 18 January 2023, a European Environment Agency (EEA) report presents a core set of soil indicators
and critical limits for soil health. One chapter is dedicated to soil pollution and addresses the issues of
indicators, thresholds and soil screening values.
Link
ECHA receives PFASs restriction proposal
The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have submitted a proposal to ECHA
to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under REACH, the European Union’s (EU) chemicals
regulation. ECHA will publish the detailed proposal, one of the broadest in the EU’s history, on 7 February 2023.
ECHA’s scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will check that the
proposed restriction meets the legal requirements of REACH in their meetings in March 2023. If it does, the
committees will begin their scientific evaluation of the proposal.
Link