Article 7 — Soil descriptors, criteria for healthy soil condition, and soil sealing and soil removal indicators

1. When monitoring and assessing soil health, Member States shall apply the soil descriptors listed in Annex I, Parts A, B and C. When monitoring soil sealing and soil removal, Member States shall apply the soil sealing and soil removal indicators listed in Annex I, Part D. 2. When assessing soil health, Member States shall use criteria for healthy soil condition consisting of: (a) non-binding sustainable target values listed in Annex I, Parts A and B; and (b) operational trigger values set in accordance with paragraph 6. 3. Member States shall set a list of organic contaminants for the soil descriptor related to soil contamination referred to in Annex I, Part B. For that purpose, Member States may take into account the indicative list of soil contaminants referred to in Article 8. 4. Member States shall set a list of contaminants for the soil descriptors related to soil contamination referred to in Annex I, Part C, including pesticides, their metabolites and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), representing the highest risk to human health and the environment, taking into account the indicative list of soil contaminants referred to in Article 8 as well as relevant information on the following, if available: (a) the toxicity of the soil contaminant; (b) the persistence and mobility of the soil contaminant; (c) possible sources and occurrence of the soil contaminant; (d) quantitative data regarding the production, use, consumption or sales volumes of the substances involved in the Member States concerned; (e) human biomonitoring data from research projects, and the presence of contaminants in environmental media. 5. Member States shall set the non-binding sustainable target values for the soil descriptors listed in Annex I, Part B, in accordance with the provisions set out in Annex I, Part B, third column. 6. Member States shall set one or more operational trigger values for each soil descriptor listed in Annex I, Parts A and B, reflecting soil degradation levels on the basis of which support for soil health and soil resilience in accordance with Article 11 is needed. Member States may set the operational trigger value for one or more soil descriptors at the same level as the non-binding sustainable target value for those soil descriptors. 7. Member States may set soil descriptors and soil sealing and soil removal indicators in addition to those that are listed in Annex I. 8. Member States shall inform the Commission when they set or adapt soil descriptors, soil sealing and soil removal indicators or criteria for healthy soil condition in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 8.