Environmental quality standards

An environmental quality standard may, for example, lay down the maximum allowable concentration of a substance in air, soil or water. Environmental quality standards can be introduced nationwide or for particular geographical areas, such as counties or municipalities.

The starting point for an environmental quality standard can be knowledge of what human beings and the natural environment can withstand. The standards may also be seen as policy instruments for achieving the environmental quality objectives in the long term. Most of the environmental quality standards are based on requirements on various European Community directives. It is primarily the Government that decides on environmental quality standards. If the standards are derived from EC directives, however, the Government can delegate decisions to public agencies. The Swedish water authorities, for example, are permitted to issue environmental quality standards for the aquatic environment.