Good Environmental Status (GES) for the descriptor is achieved if concentrations of pollutants in biota, sediment and water are compliant with the environmental quality standards (EQS) in accordance with the Water Framework Directive, the EQS daughter Directive 2008/105/EC and the Surface Water Regulation (GewV) and the Ecological Quality Assurance objectives and environmental quality objectives of the OSPAR JAMP/CEMP. Due to the significant uncertainties and knowledge gaps that still exist in the current UQNs and Environmental Assessment Criteria, the precautionary principle should be used as an additional criterion for assessment. In addition, other specific requirements deriving from the MSFD must be met, in particular the compliance with further environmental quality standards/environmental quality targets for sediment and biota, and the taking into account of biological pollution effects. The criteria for assessing GES for D8 set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 are as follows: D8C1, D8C2, D8C3, D8C4. Explanation: Germany does not update the general description of good environmental status (GES) from 2012 at descriptor level in this reporting exercise. Over the reporting period, Germany has worked with the North Seas countries in the framework of the EU's MSFD process and in OSPAR to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific aspects of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the reporting scheme Art. 8_GES. For the assessment of the criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848, the relevant assessments under other EU directives shall be taken into account under Article 8_GES, taking into account, as far as possible, the regional assessments that have been coordinated so far and, on a case-by-case basis, supplemented by national assessments.