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​In its report The Quality of Drinking Water in the Netherlands 2016, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) examines whether the drinking water that is supplied complies with all current norms.

When is the European Commission to announce a strategic approach to tackle water contamination by pharmaceutical products? This was the question asked by Dutch MEP Annie Schreijer-Pierik, spokesperson on water and environment, this week. Member states, producers, consumers and other stakeholders have been waiting for such a strategy for several years, she asserted.

On Monday 27 November, the member states of the European Union voted to extend the licence of the herbicide glyphosate for a further five years. Eighteen countries, including the Netherlands, voted in favour of the motion tabled by the European Commission, while nine countries voted against

A national survey of the quality of groundwater, both deep and shallow, has revealed the presence of herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants in some 75% of samples. Practically all shallow groundwater is affected.