Science and quality standards: The EU directives on ambient air quality and drinking water, why the WHO?
(2026) Law and the Environment 2026: Consolidation in Environmental Law (22nd Annual Conference) — Location: University of Cork (23.April.2026)
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- Abstract
- Science plays a central role in environmental law, informing both the rationale and substance of regulatory action while reinforcing its legitimacy. This is particularly evident in EU air and water quality law, where successive legislative revisions have progressively consolidated standards. The Ambient Air Quality Directive (2024/2881) and the Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184) establish pollutant thresholds based on scientific assessments of risks to human health and the environment. These standards raise questions regarding the nature and integration of the underlying scientific evidence in the legislative process. A key reference point is the World Health Organization, whose guidelines have consistently informed EU regulatory choices. This presentation examines the main historical and functional reasons behind the EU’s reliance on WHO expertise. It highlights the parallel evolution and mutual influence between WHO recommendations and EU environmental quality standards for drinking water and air.
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Bertaux, C. (2026, April 23). Science and quality standards: The EU directives on ambient air quality and drinking water, why the WHO? Law and the Environment 2026: Consolidation in Environmental Law (22nd Annual Conference), University of Cork. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/275922