Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/472 on a common approach to establish a systematic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in wastewaters in the EU

Summary:

Recommendation adopted by the European Commission on 17 March 2021, concerning the monitoring of COVID-19 and its variants in wastewaters in the European Union (EU).

Further information:

The purpose of this Recommendation is to support Member States in establishing wastewater surveillance systems across the EU as a complementary data collection and management tool of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, focusing on the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The Recommendation sets out guidance that Member States are encouraged to take on the more systematic use of wastewater monitoring and inclusion in national testing strategies.

The Recommendation was put forward by the European Commission on 17 March 2021 alongside a Communication on a coordinated approach to a lifting of restrictions.