Two commercial SCR catalysts, with a nominal W content of about 9 wt.% and a V nominal content of 0.55 and 1.8 wt.%, respectively, were contacted with different amounts of Na and K and with HCl vapours in order to simulate poisoning by species more specifically contained in exhaust gases from MSW combustion. Catalysts were characterised using XRD analysis, SEM/EDX analysis, BET and pore size distribution measurements, NH3 TPD, TG analysis. Poisoning agents do not cause loss of surface area nor pore occlusion. A significant loss of surface acidity was observed upon alkali metals poisoning whereas a decreasing of vanadium content was observed for the more concentrated catalysts upon HCl poisoning. Catalysts deactivation is proportional to the number of acid sites neutralised by alkali metals adsorbing ammonia in the temperature range typical of SCR process. HCl promotes the formation of new acid sites showing a lower activity compared to the original one. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.