One of the less-discussed questions in the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) transition period is what happens to spare parts for products already in service.
It will be up to the national approvals, but it is possible that spare parts that were placed on the market before 31 December 2026 which do not have a 2024/371 mark, and which meet the national requirements at the time of placing on the market, can still be used after 31 December 2032 without needing a certificate of conformity under DWD — provided they do not compromise drinking water quality. This last point is a general requirement from the DWD.
But it will be up to national regulators to finalise this.
This exception ensures that maintaining and repairing long-life products won’t be blocked by the transition to the new EU system. However, it also puts the onus on manufacturers and installers to ensure that any spare part genuinely meets the “no deterioration” requirement for water quality — and it means having proof from the date of placing on the market. Such proof can be more complex and leads to tricky determinations. On this, there has been much guidance generated during the transitional window of Brexit — which can mutatis mutandis also apply to drinking water spare parts.
Feel free to reach out and we are happy to clarify this topic for you with your specific situation if you are concerned about stock management.