1. Bioavailability and Metals Standards- Workshop
1st Announcement
Rory Wallace-UK
Madalina David D.G. Environment
Strategic Coordination Group 3 March 2011

2. Background
Biotic Ligand Models (BLMs) have now been available for a number of years, with many experts calling for the consideration of bioavailability as the most robust means of setting environmental quality standards for metals.
The forthcoming EU Proposal on Priority Substances may contain the inclusion of new candidate metals together with associated EQS values and also a review of the existing standards for nickel and lead
As these standards are likely to be far more stringent than the existing values the need for a viable mechanism for setting robust standards has assumed a higher profile than at any time in the last ten years
SCG 3 March 2011

3. Recent Developments
A great deal of work has taken place to consider how best to harness the BLM approach
Simplified Estimator Tools have been developed -specifically designed for use in a regulatory regime
Several MS have begun to embed such tools in laboratory information management systems
The endorsement of the use of bioavailability for standard setting in the recent SCHER Committee Opinion provides a platform to explore this work further
SCG 3 March 2011

4. The Workshop
The key aim is to provide an opportunity for MS representatives to share their experiences of implementing bioavailability-based approaches for metals.
The workshop will facilitate an open discussion on the steps that need to be taken to meet the needs of the Directive and to deliver a practical and transparent methodology to account for bioavailability.
The steps agreed will then be captured in the form of clear guidance which will be freely distributed via the web ( written in plain English by a drafting group (selected from participants).
SCG 3 March 2011

5. Arrangements
The event will be held in Brussels on 21st June 2011 back to back with CIS Working Group E meeting.
We envisage that each Member State may send up to three delegates and would suggest that they are drawn from policy, technical and implementation backgrounds. Our intention is to ensure that attending delegates can then provide their own briefing sessions at a domestic level
At the session a range of experts drawn from Member States and Industry will be on hand:
to demonstrate both the Tiered Approach and the available Estimator Tools (MS ExCel software )
offer an opportunity to consider problems using worked examples
The workshop will seek to identify a drafting group to develop the guidance document.
SCG 3 March 2011

6. Strategic Coordination Group members are invited to:
Take note of these arrangements
Recommend to Water Directors the endorsement of the proposal for this workshop
SCG 3 March 2011

7. Thanks for your attention