The EU Drinking Water Directive (EU 2020/2184) establishes minimum hygiene and safety standards for water intended for human consumption, as well as for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water. The directive aims to ensure that substances used in such materials do not negatively affect water quality or public health.
On 5 January 2026, the European Chemicals Agency published a news release announcing that companies and other economic operators can begin submitting notifications of intention under the Drinking Water Directive. This step is intended to help regulators better understand which substances companies plan to submit for evaluation in materials used in contact with drinking water.
A large number of substances used in drinking water contact materials may need to be evaluated under the directive. However, the European Chemicals Agency and EU Member States currently do not know in advance which substances companies intend to submit for assessment.
This uncertainty creates several potential challenges. Authorities may face difficulties in planning the evaluation workload, and the large number of substances could lead to regulatory bottlenecks or delays. In addition, multiple companies may prepare separate dossiers for the same substance, resulting in duplication of effort and inefficient use of resources.
To manage these challenges effectively, companies should begin preparing for the notification process at an early stage.
Organizations should identify all materials and substances used in products that come into contact with drinking water and evaluate whether they may require assessment under the directive. Submitting the Notification of Intention early allows regulators to anticipate upcoming applications. Companies should also begin preparing the necessary technical data and consider joint submissions where multiple companies are working with the same substance. Monitoring regulatory deadlines and transition periods is also important to ensure timely compliance.
Submitting notifications of intention provides several advantages for both regulators and industry.
Early notifications allow authorities to plan their workload more effectively and improve transparency regarding substances that may require evaluation. The process also helps reduce duplication of work among companies preparing submissions. In addition, the directive strengthens consumer protection by ensuring that substances used in materials that contact drinking water are properly assessed. This contributes to increased public trust in drinking water systems.
The request by the European Chemicals Agency for companies to submit notifications of intention under the EU Drinking Water Directive (EU 2020/2184) represents an important step toward harmonizing EU requirements for materials that come into contact with drinking water.
By introducing an early notification phase before full applications are submitted, the system improves transparency, supports better regulatory planning, reduces duplication of effort, and ensures smoother workload management. ComplianceXL supports companies in managing these requirements by assisting with regulatory monitoring, substance identification, and preparation of the technical documentation required for submissions.
FAQs:
1.What is the purpose of the Notification of Intention?
The notification of intention informs the European Chemicals Agency that a company plans to submit a full application to add or remove a substance from the EU positive lists for materials that come into contact with drinking water.
2.Is the Notification of Intention the same as a full application?
No. The notification is a preliminary step. A full application containing complete technical and scientific data must be submitted at a later stage.
3.Where should notifications be submitted?
Notifications must be submitted electronically through the ECHA Industry Portal using the required data format.
