On 30 October 2026, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced an update to the “Assessment criteria for plastics and other organic materials in contact with drinking water” in Technical Information No. 14/2026. The announcement is based on the “Seventh Amendment” to the notice, which the UBA adopted on 5 October 2026 and published on 27 October 2026 in the Federal Gazette ; the amendment enters into force on the day after publication. (Sources: UBA, Federal Gazette.)
The main points of the amendment are formal and substantive changes: a definition of “nanoform (substances with a nanostructure)” has been added, based on the European definition and including provisions on particles, aggregates and agglomerates. References to tests and standards have also been updated: for example, “DIN EN 1420: 2016-05” has been superseded by “DIN EN 1420: 2026-06”. Specific substance entries have been added to the annexes for individual materials, and maximum levels or restrictions have been set for selected substances; examples include tert-butyl peroxybenzoate and rules for colourants, which are subject to special verification and exclusion conditions when in nanoform.
The changes affect manufacturers, testing bodies and operators of water supply systems: the assessment criteria serve as a technical reference for testing and approving materials that come into contact with drinking water, and are relevant to the implementation of national enforcement measures under the Drinking Water Ordinance. Changes to terminology and testing standards may tighten testing requirements, affect upgrade or testing deadlines for products, and lead to specific changes to the positive lists published by the UBA.
The UBA describes the changes as a response to technological developments, such as the use of nanostructured materials, and to new editions of standards. Legally binding details, particularly substance-specific MTC values (maximum tolerable concentrations) and specific changes to the annexes, can be found in the Federal Gazette publication. The announcement is the responsibility of the UBA’s “Drinking Water and Swimming Pool Water Hygiene” department; the Federal Gazette notice is signed by the President, Prof. Dr Dirk Messner.
The facts and legal effect are evidenced by publication in the Federal Gazette; potential consequences for manufacturers and water suppliers arise from the specified substance restrictions and updated standards. Further legal or economic assessments depend on national enforcement decisions and implementation in technical testing procedures.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).