After months of negotiations, the Parliament and the Council agreed on 10 April on a final text regarding the Soil Monitoring Law.
The content of the final text is clearly less ambitious than the initial proposal from the Commission. Member States are not required to implement sustainable soil management practices but only have to support land owners and managers to improve soil health and resilience through advice and training for example. It is important to stress that no obligations have been imposed on land owners and managers. Regarding the criteria to determine healthy soil condition (3 different classes), a more flexible approach has been adopted for Member States. One mandatory soil descriptor for biodiversity has been maintained, plus a list of voluntary ones. Also, a new descriptor for contaminants will have to include at least PFAS, pesticides and pesticides metabolite, taking into account an indicative list of contaminants set up by the Commission. However, there is no requirements for the choice and number of substances. The final text still refers to the non-binding target to achieve healthy soils by 2050.
This text should be published soon but it still needs to be formally approved by the Council and the Parliament (possibly before the summer) before entering into force.