U.K. consults on hazardous substances

LONDON—The Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs in the United Kingdom has published proposals for dealing with hazardous substances in surface waters.

The DEFRA consultation follows publication in July of a European Commission proposal for a new "daughter directive" to the Water Framework Directive on priority substances.

The proposed daughter directive introduces environmental quality standards for more than 30 priority substances. It also proposes additional reporting requirements, including an inventory of emissions, discharges and losses of priority substances.

DEFRA said that it was particularly keen to seek views on the proposals from the chemicals, ports, water and agricultural sectors.