As part of EEA's ongoing security and identity management improvements, we are currently migrating the system to Entra ID authentication.
We kindly ask all users to start using Entra ID credentials when logging in to the system. 

Please note that LDAP authentication will be phased out and disabled by the end of August 2026.
We encourage you to verify that you can successfully access the system and that your account and permissions function as expected after Entra ID login.
Should you encounter any issues or require assistance during this transition, please contact Laszlo Cseh at laszlo.cseh@eaudeweb.ro 
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
As part of EEA's ongoing security and identity management improvements, we are currently migrating the system to Entra ID authentication.
We kindly ask all users to start using Entra ID credentials when logging in to the system. 

Please note that LDAP authentication will be phased out and disabled by the end of August 2026.
We encourage you to verify that you can successfully access the system and that your account and permissions function as expected after Entra ID login.
Should you encounter any issues or require assistance during this transition, please contact Laszlo Cseh at laszlo.cseh@eaudeweb.ro 
Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D8 / Malta / Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2012-10-15
GES Descriptor D8 Contaminants
Member State Malta
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Reported by Malta Environment and Planning Authority
Report date -
Report access MSFD9GES_20131105_121546.xml
GES component
D8
8.1 Concentration of contaminants
8.1.1 Concentration of contaminants
8.2 Effects of contaminants
8.2.1 Level of pollution effects
8.2.2 Occurrence and impact of acute pollution
8.2.2 Occurrence and impact of acute pollution
Method used
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of
the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
Marine reporting units
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
  • Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach
  • Assessment area
  • Assessment areas
  • Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas
  • Descriptor 3 Assessment area
  • Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM)
  • MIC-MT-MS
  • Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area
  • NIS Assessment area
  • West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area
  • West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
Feature
  • IntroHazSubstOther
  • IntroHazSubstOther
  • IntroHazSubstOther
Criterion/indicator
D8
8.1
8.1.1
8.2
8.2.1
8.2.2
8.2.2
GES description
GES is a description of the desired status in terms of concentration of contaminants in the marine environment and in terms of significant pollution events. Statements describing this GES are associated with specific MSFD criteria and/or indicators as applicable.
Concentration of selected contaminants in relevant matrices is in line with set environmental quality standards, or otherwise in line with undisturbed conditions.
Threshold values
Threshold value unit
Proportion of area to achieve threshold value
Assessment Area
Assessment Area
Assessment Area
Reference point type
Baseline
WFD baseline monitoring survey (2012)
WFD baseline monitoring survey (2012)
WFD baseline monitoring survey (2012)
Assessment method
Concentration of contaminants (to be confirmed by the MSFD monitoring programme)
Development status
Further development needed (expected to be operational by 2018 if adopted) in view of the lack of established Environmental Quality Standards in sediment and biota, and in view of the limited knowledge with respect to background levels of contaminants.
Knowledge of the effects of contaminants on ecosystems or biota is very limited in Malta and is not deemed sufficient in articulating the desired levels of pollution effects on ecosystem components as per MSFD indicator 8.2.1. This is also in view of the fact that the effects of contaminants, which as per outcome of the MSFD Initial Assessment have exceeded established or proposed Environmental Quality Standards through one or more monitoring events, or, in the absence of set or proposed EQS, are associated with detectable concentrations in the marine environment, have not been studied in Malta.