ECJ clarifies obligations under water pollution law

Operators of fish farms discharging substances such as ammonia and nitrites into water are required to seek prior authorisation under a 2006 directive on dangerous substances in water (EED 06/02/06), EU judges said on Thursday.

The European court of justice (ECJ) was asked to interpret the directive in a case brought in France by green group ANPER-TOS.  The group called on French judges to annul a decree exempting fish farms with an annual production capacity of less than 20 tonnes from the requirement.