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