2022/0289/FIN
EC/EFTA
FI Finlande
  • B00 - CONSTRUCTION
2022-07-14
2022-04-21

Materials and products in contact with domestic water: for example, well rings, water pipes used for water supply, pipes and pipe fittings, gaskets, water pumps, valves, bearing and gasket greases, coatings, tanks and water containers in water treatment facilities, water hydrants, equipment chambers and other similar products that come into contact with water in water installations.

Government proposal to Parliament for an Act amending the Health Protection Act and certain related laws.

In the context of the implementation of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Drinking Water Directive), it is proposed to add a general provision to the Health Protection Act (763/1994) stating that materials used in products that come into contact with domestic water and chemicals and filter media used in water treatment must not adversely affect the colour, odour or taste of the water, enhance microbial growth in the water or cause contaminants to leach into the water at levels that are higher than necessary in

view of the intended purpose. This provision corresponds to Articles 11(1) and 12(2) of the Drinking Water Directive.
In accordance with Article 11 of the Drinking Water Directive, Finland is setting certain minimum hygiene requirements for materials and products that come into contact with domestic water. Therefore, it is proposed to add to the Health Protection Act the power to issue more detailed provisions by decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health concerning
1) chemicals used for the treatment of domestic water supply;
2) the starting substances, compositions or constituents used in the manufacture of materials or products that come into contact with domestic water, the conditions for their use and the minimum hygiene requirements, testing and acceptance methodologies and pass/fail criteria for the test results;
3) the procedure for the assessment of conformity of products that come into contact with domestic water and the designation of conformity assessment bodies and the marking of the product as fit for use for water intended for human consumption;
4) the procedure for the inclusion on or removal from the European Union positive lists of starting substances, compositions or constituents used in the manufacture of products that come into contact with domestic water.
The content of the decree to be issued under the authorisation will be determined following the adoption by the Commission of implementing acts and delegated acts under Article 11(2), (5), (8) and (11) of the Drinking Water Directive.
The proposed regulation clarifies the provisions of section 17 of the current Health Protection Act that the levels of contaminants leaching into domestic water from substances used in the treatment or distribution of water or materials used in equipment must not be higher than necessary for their intended purpose, and must not jeopardise compliance with domestic water quality requirements, and that water treatment, storage and distribution installations must be designed, located and constructed in such a way that the domestic water meets the required quality standards. The current legislation is based on Council Directive 98/83/EC, the recast version of which is Directive 2020/2184.