Pursuant to Directive 76/464/EC, are hereby set the limit values for emission standards for mercury in discharges from industrial plants, the quality objectives for mercury in the aquatic environment, the time limits for compliance with the conditions specified in the authorizations granted by the competent authorities of Member States in respect of existing discharges, the reference methods of measurement enabling the mercury content in discharges and in the aquatic environment to be determined as well as a monitoring procedure. The limit values, the time limits by which they must be complied with and the monitoring procedure for discharges are laid down in Annex I.
The limit values shall normally apply at the point where waste waters containing mercury leave the industrial plant. When waste waters containing mercury are treated outside the industrial plant at a treatment plant intended for the removal of mercury, the Member State may permit the limit values to be applied at the point where the waste waters leave the treatment plant.
The Member States shall draw up specific programmes for mercury discharges by multiple sources which are not industrial plants and for which the emission standards laid down in Article 3 cannot be applied in practice. The Member States concerned shall be responsible for monitoring the aquatic environment affected by industrial discharges. In the case of discharges affecting the waters of more than one Member State, the Member States concerned shall cooperate with a view to harmonizing monitoring procedures. (9 articles and 2 Annexes)