This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 32026D2488
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2488 of 10 November 2026 laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards technical details for demonstration and subtraction of exceedances attributable to natural sources
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2488 of 10 November 2026 laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards technical details for demonstration and subtraction of exceedances attributable to natural sources
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2488 of 10 November 2026 laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards technical details for demonstration and subtraction of exceedances attributable to natural sources
C/2026/7462
OJ L, 2026/2488, 11.11.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2488/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
|
Official Journal |
EN L series |
|
2026/2488 |
11.11.2026 |
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2026/2488
of 10 November 2026
laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards technical details for demonstration and subtraction of exceedances attributable to natural sources
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (1), and in particular Article 16(4) thereof,
Whereas:
|
(1) |
Directive (EU) 2024/2881 establishes air quality standards and air quality monitoring and reporting obligations to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment. |
|
(2) |
Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 allows Member States to identify zones and average exposure territorial units where exceedances of certain air quality standards are attributable to natural sources. Member States are to provide the Commission with lists of any such zones and average exposure territorial units, together with information on concentrations and sources and the evidence demonstrating that the exceedances are attributable to natural sources. When the Commission has been informed accordingly, such exceedances are not to be considered as an exceedance for the purpose of Directive (EU) 2024/2881. |
|
(3) |
Although Directive (EU) 2024/2881 provides for the possibility to subtract exceedances from natural sources for compliance assessment purposes, the health risks associated with high pollution concentrations, even where they originate from natural sources, remain. The subtraction of those contributions is not to prevent Member States from taking action to reduce their health impact, and where the applicable alert thresholds, referred to in Article 15 of Directive (EU) 2024/2881, are exceeded implement the short-term action plans required in accordance with Article 20 of Directive (EU) 2024/2881. |
|
(4) |
In accordance with Directive (EU) 2024/2881, the Commission is to provide technical details on the demonstration and subtraction of exceedances attributable to natural sources and to specify the content of the evidence to be provided by Member States demonstrating such exceedances. In order to ensure comparability across Member States those technical details should establish how to determine that a contribution from a natural source may be subtracted from the air pollutants measured and should set out the procedure to follow for the subtraction. Article 4, point (40), of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 provides an indicative list of natural events that are to be considered contributions from natural sources. |
|
(5) |
For the purpose of applying Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2024/2881 different events such as, volcanic eruptions, seismic and geothermal activity, wild land fires, sea sprays and the atmospheric resuspension or transport of natural particles from dry regions, may be considered natural sources. It is therefore appropriate to establish certain principles to guide Member States in identifying and demonstrating which contributions are attributable to natural sources and to avoid that events such as local dust re-suspension from hard surfaces in urban or rural areas, where this is by large associated with human activities and caused by, for example, traffic, road surface abrasion, and tyre and brake wear are unduly considered natural sources for the purpose of Article 16 of that Directive. |
|
(6) |
Different methodologies exist to demonstrate and subtract natural sources contributions (2) and are expected to evolve in the future. It is therefore appropriate to provide technical details regarding the identification and quantification of contribution from natural sources regardless of the methods and methodologies used provided that they comply with certain principles ensuring their robustness. |
|
(7) |
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Ambient Air Quality Committee, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Principles for the identification, demonstration, quantification and subtraction of contributions from natural sources
For the purposes of demonstrating that exceedances are attributable to natural sources in accordance with Article 16(1) and (2) of Directive (EU) 2024/2881, Member States shall comply with the following principles:
|
(a) |
provide robust evidence demonstrating that contributions leading to exceedances are attributable to natural sources and were not caused directly or indirectly by human activities, by providing the required information in Article 5; |
|
(b) |
ensure that the occurrence of the specific natural event is demonstrated using appropriate methods; |
|
(c) |
ensure that the quantification of the contributions from natural sources is sufficiently precise and accurate; |
|
(d) |
ensure that the quantification of the contributions from natural sources is temporally consistent with the averaging periods of the air quality standard considered; |
|
(e) |
ensure that the quantification of the contributions from natural sources is spatially consistent with the natural event; |
|
(f) |
ensure that the contributions from natural sources are quantified for each pollutant separately; |
|
(g) |
ensure that the method to determine the contributions from natural sources is sufficiently documented in accordance with Article 5. |
Article 2
Identification and quantification of contributions from natural sources
1. Member States may apply any appropriate methods and methodologies for the identification and quantification of the contributions from natural sources provided that the principles set out in Article 1 are complied with.
2. Member States shall perform a qualitative assessment to identify and determine the occurrence, timing, duration and spatial extent of the contributions from natural sources.
The qualitative assessment shall be performed by using a combination of methods which may include air quality measurements data, modelling applications, remote sensing observations, meteorological analyses and backward-trajectory calculations, as relevant.
In the case of transport of natural particles from dry regions, Member States may support the qualitative assessment with measurement data showing a sharp increase in background concentrations of particulate matter and a relatively low PM2,5/PM10 ratio.
For emissions from volcanic eruptions, the qualitative assessment may be supported by data showing a simultaneous increase in particulate matter (PM10 and PM2,5) and SO2.
3. Member States shall quantify the daily contribution of the identified natural source to the ambient pollutant concentration expressed in the mass concentration unit relevant to the pollutant, such as μg/m3, in accordance with the requirements set out in Article 4.
Member States may quantify the contributions from natural sources at a shorter time interval relevant to the applicable air quality standard.
4. Where the methodology used requires the use of one or several sampling points at rural background locations, those sampling points shall be located in the area affected by the contributions from natural sources that have been identified and quantified for the zone or average exposure territorial unit in which the subtractions are to be applied in accordance with Article 3. Where the methodology requires the use of sampling points but no relevant sampling point at rural background location is available, the nearest most suitable sampling point at urban background or suburban background locations shall be used. In this case, if relevant, Member States shall correct the quantification to remove any anthropogenic contributions at urban or suburban background locations.
5. Where applicable, the determination of sea salt contributions through chemical analysis shall be done for each specific sampling point affected and shall cover at least 120 sampling days per year randomly distributed throughout the year. Once the chemical analysis is performed, Member States may use modelling applications provided the chemical analysis is repeated at least every five years. The results of the chemical analysis shall apply only to that sampling point and its spatial representativeness area, unless a wider application of the results is further supported by modelling applications and additional particulate matter composition measurements at other relevant locations.
6. Member States shall consider the periodicity of the natural event, and whether it is an occasional short-term natural event or a continuous natural event with different intensities, as is the case for sea salt contributions, to determine the appropriate periodicity of measurements.
7. Member States may identify contributions from natural sources originating inside or outside their territory.
Article 3
Subtraction of contributions from natural sources
1. Where a Member State decides to subtract contributions from natural sources, they shall do so by subtracting the contributions quantified in accordance with Article 2(3) from the daily concentrations at each affected sampling point for each affected day. They shall not perform such subtractions from daily concentrations for days not affected by the contributions from natural sources.
When calculating an annual mean, Member States shall use the daily concentration after subtraction of contributions from natural sources.
When calculating time intervals shorter than an annual mean, Member States may use a temporal resolution higher than daily concentrations.
2. When assessing compliance with the average exposure reduction obligation in accordance with Article 13(3) of Directive (EU) 2024/2881, Member States shall ensure consistency, as regards subtractions of contributions from natural sources, between the calculation of the AEI for the base year and the AEI for the target year. Where data are not available for the years included in the calculation of the AEI for the base year to enable subtraction of contributions from natural sources, Member States may use an estimated value. The estimation may be based on measured contributions from natural sources for the same zone or average exposure territorial unit in meteorologically similar years.
Where subtractions are applied for a target year and that year subsequently becomes a base year, the same subtractions as for that target year shall be applied in the calculation of the new AEI for that new base year. Where subtractions are not applied for the target year, subtractions shall not be applied in the calculation of the new AEI for the new base year.
3. When considering contributions of natural sources to the AEI, contributions of natural sources shall be subtracted for each sampling point affected in accordance with the requirements of this decision.
Article 4
Minimum data quality objectives and quality control
1. Data obtained for the quantification of contributions from natural sources in accordance with Article 2(3) of this Decision through the use of measurements or modelling shall meet the relevant data quality objectives for air quality assessment laid down in Annex V to Directive (EU) 2024/2881.
2. When using modelling applications to identify natural sources events, Member States shall ensure that those modelling applications are fit-for-purpose and quality assured.
3. When using modelling applications to identify the transport of natural particles from dry regions, Member States shall establish model specific threshold for when a day can be classified as influenced by contributions from natural sources.
Article 5
Documentation
1. Member States shall provide the information listed in the Annex to this Decision for the purpose of fulfilling the information requirements laid down in Article 16(2) of Directive (EU) 2024/2881.
2. The documentation shall be specific to the year in which subtractions of contributions from natural sources have been performed.
Article 6
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 10 November 2026.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
(1) OJ L, 2024/2881, 20.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/2881/oj.
(2) The Technical Support Document on the demonstration and subtraction of exceedances attributable to natural sources under Directive (EU) 2024/2881 reflects the current best practices applied by Member States, ISBN 978-92-68-44149-7.
ANNEX
Information to be provided in accordance with Article 16(2) of Directive (EU) 2024/2881
A. Aim and scope
|
(1) |
Reported year. |
|
(2) |
Statement of the purpose of the document referring to the application of Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2024/2881. |
B. Competent authority or designated body
|
(1) |
Member State. |
|
(2) |
Name of the competent authority or designated body. |
|
(3) |
Description of the role and involvement of the competent authority or designated body. |
C. Description of the exceedance situations attributable to natural sources
|
(1) |
List of zones or average exposure territorial units where exceedances of the applicable air quality standards are attributable to natural sources in the reported year. |
|
(2) |
Description of the natural events addressed in the report and responsible for the exceedances. |
|
(3) |
Temporal scope of the natural events: list of dates on which natural events have been identified and their duration, or in the case of continuous events such as sea salt, the period during which the events have been identified. |
|
(4) |
Sampling points affected and their spatial representativeness. |
D. Description of the methodology (procedure) followed for the identification and quantification of contributions from natural sources and methods used
|
(1) |
Description of the method and methodology used for the identification and quantification of contributions from natural sources. |
|
(2) |
Description of the application of the principles referred to in article 1 of this Decision to the method and methodology used to determine contributions from natural sources. |
|
(3) |
In the case of subtraction of contributions due to wild-land fires, information on how the event exceeded the capabilities of existing pollution control and emergency response strategies, and evidence indicating how the event could not be prevented or controlled due to extreme meteorological conditions (such as strong winds, unusually high temperatures, or unusually dry conditions following drought episodes, as compared with climate averages for the location concerned or as derived from consultation of the national weather service). Where a wild-land fire contribution originated outside of the Member State’s territory, the Member State is not required to provide such evidence. |
|
(4) |
Information on the quality control and assurance of the technical methods applied and references to the underlying methodological reports. |
|
(5) |
Where modelling applications are used for the identification of transport of natural particles from dry regions, the model specific threshold established in accordance with Article 4(3). |
|
(6) |
Where modelling applications are used for the quantification of contributions from natural sources: version of the modelling application (or modelling applications in the case of ensemble approaches), resolution, input data, geographic domains, and use of observation for assimilation or data fusion in the case of reanalyses. |
|
(7) |
Uncertainty analyses associated with the quantification, clearly reflecting the margin of error, confidence intervals, or any other relevant statistical measures to ensure precision and accuracy of the quantifications. |
E. Information on concentrations before and after subtractions of exceedances attributable to natural sources (1)
|
(1) |
Days affected by contributions from natural sources and daily levels of air pollutants monitored at the affected sampling points. |
|
(2) |
The quantified daily contributions from natural sources at all affected sampling points. |
|
(3) |
Where sampling points at rural background locations are used for the quantification of contributions from natural sources: the list of sampling points at the rural background locations used, information on their representativeness in relation to the natural event, the days affected by contributions from natural sources and the daily levels of air pollutants monitored. |
|
(4) |
Where sampling points at locations other than rural background locations are used for the quantification of contributions from natural sources: the list of the sampling points used, information on their representativeness, the days affected by contributions from natural sources and the daily levels of air pollutants monitored. |
(1) In case the Member State uses the possibility set out in Article 2(3), references to days shall be understood as referring to hours, and references to daily levels shall be understood as referring to hourly or 8-hour mean levels, as applicable.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2488/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)