The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced a planned call for tenders to develop a harmonised and reliable risk assessment methodology for microplastics in aquatic environments. This initiative falls under the Water Framework Directive, Environmental Quality Standards Directive, and Groundwater Directive, which mandate ECHA to publish scientific reports for substance prioritisation on watchlists. The study will involve collecting and reviewing scientific data to assess EU-wide risks from microplastics, developing justified thresholds, and incorporating recent recommendations on sampling and analysis methods. This methodology is essential for determining whether microplastics should remain on surface water and groundwater watchlists beyond the initial three-year monitoring period. The contract, valued at €66,000, is classified under Research and Development Services (CPV: 73000000) with a maximum duration of 6 months. Participation is open to EU-registered entities and eligible third-country operators under specific agreements. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically by 10 July 2026, with the negotiated procedure expected to launch on 16 July 2026.
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