Greece Alerts Drinking-Water Equipment Suppliers to New EU Compliance Rules
Greece has advised suppliers of pipes, fittings, valves and other drinking-water equipment to prepare for a unified EU conformity assessment system applying from 31 December 2026. Products with valid national certificates on that date may remain under transitional arrangements until 31 December 2032.
EU system takes effect at the end of 2026
Greece has notified manufacturers, importers and other suppliers of drinking-water equipment that new European Union conformity requirements will apply from 31 December 2026. According to Cibum, the Greek Ministry of Health issued a circular on 7 August 2026 asking economic operators to prepare in time for the new certification system.
The framework covers products and materials that come into contact with water intended for human consumption and fall within Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2020/2184. It applies to equipment used in installations for the abstraction, treatment, storage and distribution of drinking water, including pipes, fittings, valves and other components in direct contact with the water.
The requirements do not generally cover containers used to package bottled water. Cibum notes that references to storage and distribution concern equipment installed in drinking-water systems rather than every object in which water may be stored or supplied.
Assessment focuses on water safety and quality
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/370 supplements Article 11 of the directive and establishes conformity assessment procedures for the products within its scope. From 31 December 2026, covered products will have to complete the prescribed European assessment process before entering the new compliance regime.
The objective is to create a common EU system for checking materials that contact drinking water. The assessment is intended to ensure that these materials do not adversely affect human health or alter the taste, odour or colour of the water. It must also address the risk of unwanted releases of substances from equipment into the water supply.
For suppliers, the first task is to determine whether each product falls under Article 11. Companies whose portfolios include pipes, fittings, valves or water-treatment and supply equipment will then need to plan the applicable assessment and certification work. The Greek circular was also communicated to the Ministry of Development so that relevant market participants could be informed.
National certificates provide a transition to 2032
A transitional arrangement applies to products already assessed under national health requirements. If a product holds a national certificate of conformity that remains valid on 31 December 2026, application of the new regime to that product will be deferred until 31 December 2032.
The transition gives holders of qualifying national certificates additional time, but it does not remove the need to move to the European system. After the transitional period, the EU procedure will become the common assessment framework for products covered by the rules. Manufacturers and importers therefore need to review certificate validity, map affected product lines and schedule conformity work according to the two deadlines. Products without an eligible national certificate face the earlier 2026 date, while qualifying products have a route to remain covered through the transition.