How Should Companies Respond to the Upcoming DWD Certification – (EU) 2020/2184 "EU Drinking Water Directive"?
In December 2020, the EU published the new EU Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184, which came into force in January 2021. It requires all EU Member States to transpose the Directive into national law and comply with its provisions by 12 January 2023. These provisions will apply to materials and products used in new installations or in the refurbishment or maintenance of existing installations. The Directive will take effect on 31 December 2026, with transitional provisions remaining in force until 31 December 2032.
In 1998, the European Union issued the EU Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC, requiring EU Member States to enact relevant legislation to ensure that drinking water products sold within their territories guarantee the safety of the public’s drinking water. However, as the Directive did not specify a single standard certification requirement, a wide variety of certification requirements emerged across the EU Member States.
Examples include the KTW-BWGL certification in Germany and the ACS certification in France.
The good news is that under the new (EU) 2020/2184 ‘EU Drinking Water Directive’, products need only hold DWD certification to enter all EU Member States, which will reduce the time and financial costs for businesses. However, how can companies navigate the transition period whilst their products have not yet obtained DWD certification?
Before 31 December 2032, companies’ products must hold the relevant national certification or certification under the new EU Drinking Water Directive (DWD). For example, in France, an ACS or DWD certificate is required; in Germany, compliance with the KTW-BWGL standard or a DWD certificate is required; If no certificate or test report is available, the products will be deemed non-compliant with the relevant national drinking water legislation from 1 January 2027 onwards.
The ST-2058-W and ST-2058-G from SealTex , currently hold the German KTW-BWGL drinking water certification, which is valid until 2030. and actively pursuing DWD certification to assist our clients in the drinking water sector with their expansion into the EU market.
