Guidance documents
Guidance on DWD
The list below contains all theGuidance Documents which are available, or will be available, on this website. These documents have been developed with the participation of many stakeholders: Industry, Member States and NGOs. The objective of these documents is tofacilitate the implementation of the European positive list under the drinking water directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption) by describing good practice on how to fulfil the obligations arising from Article 11 of the directive and associated implementing legislation.
Some of these documents have been or will be translated into official EU languages.
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VOLUME I: Guidance on testing starting substances, compositions and constituents
- Reference name:
- Guidance on testing starting substances, compositions and constituents
- Description:
- This document describes the applicants’ obligations according to Article 11(2)(a) of the drinking water directive and how to fulfil them. This guidance provides technical scientific advice on how to comply with the methodologies for testing and how to perform the exposure assessment and the assessment of human health risks set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/365.
- download full PDF document (01/2025)
VOLUME II: Guidance on accepting starting substances, compositions and constituents
- Reference name:
- Guidance on accepting starting substances, compositions and constituents
- Description:
- The document provides technical scientific advice on how to comply with the methodologies for accepting starting substances, compositions and constituents on the European positive list in accordance with the requirements set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/365.
- download full PDF document (01/2025)
VOLUME III: Guidance on the scope of DWD applications
- Reference name:
- Guidance on the scope of DWD applications
- Description:
- The document provides support to potential applicants when deciding on the eligibility of a starting substance, composition or constituent for listing in the European positive list and clarifies timelines for applications and the roles of applicant and representative of an applicant.
- download full PDF document (01/2025)
VOLUME IV: Guidance on DWD notifications of intention
- Reference name:
- Guidance on DWD notifications of intention
- Description:
- The document provides technical scientific advice on how to prepare the submission of a notification of intention to ECHA, a mandatory step before an application for including, modifying or removing a starting substance, composition or constituent into/from the European positive list.
- download full PDF document (01/2025)
VOLUME V: Guidance on calibrants and representative samples
- Reference name:
- Guidance on calibrants and representative samples of accepted compositions in the context of the Drinking Water Directive
- Description:
- The document defines a procedure and conditions for submission of calibrants and representative samples of accepted compositions to the European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials (EURL-FCM) following the publication of an opinion of the Committee for Risk Assessment to include, maintain or amend an entry in one of the European positive lists.
- download the full PDF document from the Joint Research Centre catalogue (06/2025)