The good environmental status for the descriptor "pollutants in food" is achieved "if the EU limits for certain contaminants in food are not exceeded." In order to assess the good environmental status of D9, criterion D9C1 is used in accordance with commission decision (EU) 2017/848. Explanation: In this round of reports, Germany does not update the general description of the good environmental status of 2012 at descriptor level. During the reporting period, Germany worked with the Countries bordering the Baltic Sea within the framework of the EU's MSRL-CIS process and in HELCOM to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific details 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 evaluation of the criteria of the Commission's Decision (EU) 2017/848, Article 8_GES, where relevant, shall include the assessments under other EU directives, take into account, as far as possible, the regional assessments agreed so far and, in individual cases, national assessments.

The concentration of cadmium in the fish muscle is below 0.05 mg kg-1 fresh weight. Good status is determined by marine species according to the species of fish most used for food; The status is determined by the weighted average of the consumption of the indicators.


The concentration of dioxins is below 3.5 PCDD / F pg TEQ g-1 fresh weight. Good status is determined by marine species according to the species of fish most used for food; The status is determined by the weighted average of the consumption of the indicators.


The concentration of lead in the fish muscle is below 0.30 mg kg-1 fresh weight. Good status is determined by marine species according to the species of fish most used for food; The status is determined by the weighted average of the consumption of the indicators.


The concentration of mercury in the fish muscle is less than 0.50 mg kg-1 fresh weight (1.0 mg kg -1 fresh weight). Good status is determined by marine species according to the species of fish most used for food; The status is determined by the weighted average of the consumption of the indicators.


The total concentration of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs is below 6.5 PCDD / F + PCB pg TEQ g-1 fresh weight. Good status is determined by marine species according to the species of fish most used for food; The status is determined by the weighted average of the consumption of the indicators.

Contaminants in seafood intended for human consumption as defined in European Commission Regulation no. 1881/2006 as amended 1259/2011.

There are no significant violations of the MRLs applicable at all times in the food law for seafood for human consumption

D9C1 The level of contaminants in edible tissues of seafood caught or harvested in the wild (excluding fin-fish from mariculture) does not exceed the maximum levels laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 or levels established through regional or subregional cooperation. GES: When the threshold values are achieved for all substances and all species in the management areas.

D9: During the reporting period, regional cooperation focused on the development of methodological standards to assess the various aspects of stress and resilience on the basis of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. The indicators vary in their level of maturity and require further development or testing. Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 gives, for the first time, an explicit obligation on the part of the EU Member States to agree on evaluation elements, thresholds and integration rules in the framework of the EU MSFD CIS process and through regional or subregional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the countries bordering the Baltic Sea in the framework of the ongoing work programmes of the EU MSFD and the HELCOM bodies to establish where a coordinated definition is still missing.