Summary
The document outlines Cefic’s stance on the new EU Soil Strategy. It highlights the importance of soil as a natural resource and emphasises the chemical industry’s commitment to reducing environmental impacts in line with the European Green Deal. Cefic advocates for an EU-wide strategy supported by national action plans, arguing that uniform European standards may be ineffective due to the varying soil types and properties across Europe. They emphasise the importance of coherence between national and EU legislation, the application of the subsidiarity principle to address pollution and degradation, and a risk-based approach to soil investigation and remediation.
Key Takeaways
- The new Soil Strategy should align national legislation with EU Green Deal initiatives, focusing on precaution and prevention of pollution without overlapping objectives.
- National perspectives should guide soil pollution and degradation issues, respecting the subsidiarity principle and allowing national authorities to set priorities based on local conditions.
- A risk-based approach to soil management should be applied, taking into account land use and potential risks to human health and the environment, to ensure economically feasible and proportionate remediation measures.