RIVM report 607633001 EU-wide control measures to reduce ...

Summary
The Water Framework Directive requires Member States to implement the necessary measures in order
to comply with environmental quality standards of Priority Substances or to cease or phase out
emissions, discharges and losses of Priority Hazardous Substances. Cadmium is one of these Priority
Hazardous Substances. In commission of the Netherlands Ministry for Housing, Spatial Planning and
the Environment (VROM), the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
investigated the following questions:
− What is legally regulated in international context and what nationally for emission control of
cadmium? Have the Netherlands implemented the international rules?
− Which measures have been taken at the national level in addition to the obligatory European
legislation?
− What is the present water quality and which emission sources are responsible for cadmium
pollution in the Netherlands? Are the demands of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)
regarding cadmium pollution fulfilled at present?
− Will the Water Framework Directive-demands be fulfilled in time regarding water quality and
emission of cadmium?
− Which additional measures can be established at Community and at national level to reach water
quality and emission demands for cadmium?
A stepwise approach was followed. Firstly, possible measures to reduce cadmium discharge, emission
or loss were identified within existing European directives and regulations. Secondly, Dutch legislation
was checked for compliance with these European legislative texts. Existing gaps between European and
Dutch legislation were identified by searching for present and past derogations and infringement
procedures. The level of enforcement was determined by studying the reports of various inspectorates
and consultation of several experts. The information in the selected legislative texts was combined with
previously established source identification for cadmium in Dutch surface waters to identify the most
relevant and cost effective measures and the limitations. Possible alternative approaches for taking
measures are discussed in the discussion section.
European legislation was found to be fully implemented in national law and enforcement of the
national law was covered. In addition to European requirements, the Netherlands have established
supplementary measures to handle cadmium-pollution, such as the establishment of a Dutch Priority
Substances-list. Cadmium is appointed as one of these Dutch Priority Substances. For these Priority
Substances, emissions need to be reported for all installations. Furthermore, Dutch law prescribes the
application of best available techniques for all point sources and not only for Integrated Pollution
Prevention Control-installations. Other measures are several subsidy programmes stimulating
investment in environmentally friendly techniques.
Main Dutch sources of cadmium-load to surface water were agriculture, sewage systems and sewering,
atmospheric deposition and the industry. Approximately 75% of cadmium was imported via the
international rivers.
Emission sources not yet covered by international legislation (i.e. by the European Pollutant Release
Transfer Registration) are the smaller combustion plants. A proposed Integrated Pollution Prevention
Control-directive will add new categories of installations in the future, but will still not cover all
installations. Moreover, the emission limits of the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control-directive are
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