M/588 - Industrial emissions
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 20.9.2022 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation as regards methods for the measurements of emissions into the air of polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total gaseous mercury and formaldehyde in support of Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
Mandate M/588 tasks the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) with developing standardized methods for measuring industrial air emissions of specific hazardous substances. These substances include polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total gaseous mercury, and formaldehyde. The mandate supports the implementation of Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions, aiming to enhance environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance across the EU by establishing harmonized measurement techniques for these pollutants.
Purpose
The mandate M/588 aims to support the implementation of Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions by standardising measurement methods. It focuses specifically on ensuring accurate and harmonised techniques for detecting and quantifying harmful air pollutants, namely polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total gaseous mercury, and formaldehyde. These substances are regulated under the Industrial Emissions Directive due to their significant environmental and health impacts.
Standardisation request
The European Commission requests the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) to develop and establish European standards for methods measuring emissions into the air of the specified pollutants. This includes creating harmonised analytical procedures that are reliable, reproducible, and suitable for regulatory monitoring and compliance verification under Directive 2010/75/EU. The standardisation should cover sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and reporting techniques to ensure consistency across Member States.
Expected deliverables
- European standards detailing measurement methods for PCDDs/PCDFs in air emissions.
- Standards for assessing dioxin-like PCBs in airborne emissions.
- Methods for determination of total gaseous mercury in industrial air releases.
- Procedures to measure formaldehyde emissions accurately.
- Guidance on sampling protocols and quality assurance to support regulatory enforcement.
- Deliverables that facilitate transparency, comparability, and legal certainty in enforcing emission limits.
Context
Directive 2010/75/EU, the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), establishes EU-wide rules to prevent and control pollution from industrial activities. Accurate measurement of hazardous pollutant emissions is crucial for effective enforcement and environmental protection. Mandate M/588 reflects the EU’s commitment to harmonising technical standards, enabling consistent application of emission limits and contributing to improved air quality and public health across Member States. This standardisation also supports the implementation of best available techniques (BAT) and compliance with monitoring obligations under the Directive.
This mandate covers the development of standardised methods for measuring emissions into the air of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total gaseous mercury, and formaldehyde. It supports the implementation of Directive 2010/75/EU related to industrial emissions, focusing on reducing pollution from industrial installations.
General Information
This European Standard specifies the long-term sampling of PCDDs/PCDFs/PCBs. There are three different sampling methods, which are based on the three different principles described of EN 1948-1, but partially modified for long-term sampling requirements:
— filter/condenser method;
— dilution method;
— cooled probe method.
Each sampling method is illustrated in detail in an Annex. The sampling methods described in this document are designed for a sampling duration of typically up to four weeks.
Additionally, this document specifies a framework of quality control requirements to be applied respectively recommended for any long-term sampling method.
With the methods described, experiences were gained for a concentration range up to 4,0 ng TEQ/m³, respectively at various stationary sources (e.g., waste incinerators, sinter plants, cement kilns).
- Draft92 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the enumeration of enterococci in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1 A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).
- Draft20 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1 A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
Strains of E. coli which do not grow at 44 °C ± 1 °C and, in particular, those that are β-D-glucuronidase-negative, such as E. coli O157, will not be detected. Some strains of Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. within the family Enterobacteriaceae can also show β-D-glucuronidase activity at 44 °C ± 1 °C.
NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).
- Draft18 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This European Standard specifies the long-term sampling of PCDDs/PCDFs/PCBs. There are three different sampling methods, which are based on the three different principles described of EN 1948-1, but partially modified for long-term sampling requirements:
— filter/condenser method;
— dilution method;
— cooled probe method.
Each sampling method is illustrated in detail in an Annex. The sampling methods described in this document are designed for a sampling duration of typically up to four weeks.
Additionally, this document specifies a framework of quality control requirements to be applied respectively recommended for any long-term sampling method.
With the methods described, experiences were gained for a concentration range up to 4,0 ng TEQ/m³, respectively at various stationary sources (e.g., waste incinerators, sinter plants, cement kilns).
- Draft92 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1 A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
Strains of E. coli which do not grow at 44 °C ± 1 °C and, in particular, those that are β-D-glucuronidase-negative, such as E. coli O157, will not be detected. Some strains of Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. within the family Enterobacteriaceae can also show β-D-glucuronidase activity at 44 °C ± 1 °C.
NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).
- Draft18 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the enumeration of enterococci in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1 A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
NOTE 2 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).
- Draft20 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies different methods for quantitative determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (see Table 1) in compost or digestate, using GC-MS, GCMS/MS or HPLC UV DAD/FLD covering a wide range of PAH contamination levels (see Table 1).
When using fluorescence detection, acenaphthylene cannot be measured.
Table 1 — Target analytes of this document
[...table not reproduced...]
The limit of detection depends on the determinants, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract.
This document contains decision tables based on the properties of the sample and the extraction and clean-up procedure to be used.
The method may be applied to the analysis of other PAH not specified in the scope, provided suitability is proven by proper in-house validation experiments.
- Draft62 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the determination of the organic nitrogen content in organic soil improvers.
- Draft10 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for extraction, separation, and determination of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in growing media and soil improvers using anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ion chromatography (IC) coupled to ICP-MS.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the document relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the document decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
- Draft19 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) in soil improvers and growing media containing more than 1 g carbon per kg of dry matter (0,1 %).
NOTE Samples with a low dry matter content can have an influence on the achievable limit of quantification as defined in the scope (i.e. 1 g carbon per kg of dry matter).
- Draft16 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the determination of the residual biogas potential in digestate in an anaerobic environment.
- Draft15 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for extraction, separation, and determination of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in growing media and soil improvers using anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ion chromatography (IC) coupled to ICP-MS.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the document relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the document decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
- Draft19 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the determination of the residual biogas potential in digestate in an anaerobic environment.
- Draft15 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies different methods for quantitative determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (see Table 1) in compost or digestate, using GC-MS, GCMS/MS or HPLC UV DAD/FLD covering a wide range of PAH contamination levels (see Table 1).
When using fluorescence detection, acenaphthylene cannot be measured.
Table 1 — Target analytes of this document
[...table not reproduced...]
The limit of detection depends on the determinants, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract.
This document contains decision tables based on the properties of the sample and the extraction and clean-up procedure to be used.
The method may be applied to the analysis of other PAH not specified in the scope, provided suitability is proven by proper in-house validation experiments.
- Draft62 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) in soil improvers and growing media containing more than 1 g carbon per kg of dry matter (0,1 %).
NOTE Samples with a low dry matter content can have an influence on the achievable limit of quantification as defined in the scope (i.e. 1 g carbon per kg of dry matter).
- Draft16 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a method for the determination of the organic nitrogen content in organic soil improvers.
- Draft10 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of mercury in aqua regia soil extracts with cold-vapour atomic spectrometry or cold-vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry
- Draft16 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of mercury in aqua regia soil extracts with cold-vapour atomic spectrometry or cold-vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry
- Draft16 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Frequently Asked Questions
A European Standardization Mandate is a formal request from the European Commission to the European Standardization Organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) to develop European standards (ENs) in support of EU legislation and policies. Mandates are issued under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 and help ensure that products and services meet the essential requirements set out in EU directives and regulations.
M/588 is a European Standardization Mandate titled "COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 20.9.2022 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation as regards methods for the measurements of emissions into the air of polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total gaseous mercury and formaldehyde in support of Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council". COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 20.9.2022 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation as regards methods for the measurements of emissions into the air of polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total gaseous mercury and formaldehyde in support of Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council There are 18 standards developed under this mandate.
Standards developed in response to a mandate and cited in the Official Journal of the European Union become "harmonized standards". Products manufactured in compliance with harmonized standards benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation, facilitating CE marking and market access across the European Economic Area.