As of 23 October 2025, the European Parliament voted for the adoption of the EU Soil Monitoring Directive and therefore a first-ever Soil Monitoring Law. This decision follows the approval on the final version of the new legislative by the European Council on 29 September and the successful vote of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) on 20 October. Today marks the final step in a series of negotiations between ENVI, Council and the EU Commission.

The legislative comprises a EU-wide framework for assessing and monitoring soils, with the overarching aspirational goal of achieving healthy soils across Europe by 2050. Under the directive, monitoring systems for the assessment of soil condition will be implemented by member states. These national systems will reveal important information about soil functions and ecosystem services, particularly important for land managers. The soil monitoring law will improve the knowledge base about the role of soils in different policy areas, such as biodiversity, forestry, agriculture and climate change. Member states are encouraged to use the new soil monitoring data in support of their farmers and foresters by providing independent advice, training activities, and capacity building.

The Soil Monitoring Law was first proposed by the European Commission in July 2023, after the implementation of the EU Soil Strategy in November 2021 identified the lack of dedicated EU legislation as a major cause for soil degradation.