The new rules seek better monitoring and recording of soil quality within member states. EU countries must identify contamination risks, compile an overview of polluted sites, and develop a national policy on soil health.
Notably, the implementation of this regulation comes with a lengthy transition period. EU countries are not required to have complete inventories of contaminated soils until 2050. This means many potential remediation actions could be delayed for years.
There is significant variation among EU countries regarding existing regulations and efforts. Countries such as Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands already have comprehensive soil cleanup systems in place. In contrast, many Eastern and Southern European countries have little regulation or procedures, according to the European Parliament.
Throughout the negotiations, strong opposition came primarily from agricultural sectors. Farming organizations and rural communities from various countries warned against overregulation and increased costs. Meanwhile, many environmental ministers supported stricter provisions that ultimately were not adopted.
This criticism resulted in virtually all controversial elements being removed from the final text of the regulation. Instead of binding targets, only general recommendations were included. As a result, there are no direct obligations for soil restoration or protection.
Particularly concerning to some is the exclusion of agriculture and forestry from the scope of the law. While the parties involved present the agreement as a step forward, it is clear that the current compromise leaves many questions unanswered. It is expected that new proposals will follow in the coming years to further tighten or expand the clean soil regulation.