ANNEX I A LIMIT VALUES FOR CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS IN SOIL

Member States may permit the limit values they fix to be exceeded in the case of the use of sludge on land which at the time of notification of this Directive is dedicated to the disposal of sludge but on which commercial food crops are being grown exclusively for animal consumption. Member States must inform the Commission of the number and type of sites concerned. They must also seek to ensure that there is no resulting hazard to human health or the environment.

Member States may permit the limit values they fix to be exceeded in respect of these parameters on soil with a pH consistently higher than 7. The maximum authorized concentrations of these heavy metals must in no case exceed those values by more than 50 %. Member States must also seek to ensure that there is no resulting hazard to human health or the environment and in particular to ground water.

It is not possible at this stage to fix limit values for chromium. The Council will fix these limit values later on the basis of proposals to be submitted by the Commission, within one year following notification of this Directive.