EU Council adopts revised rules on workplace hazardous substance exposure
The Council of the EU has adopted the sixth revision of the CMRD directive, setting new exposure limits for four substances and adding welding fumes to Annex I.
The story in focus
The Council of the EU adopted the sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive, setting occupational exposure limits for cobalt compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 1,4-dioxane and isoprene, and adding welding fumes to Annex I. The rules take effect on Official Journal publication, with member states given two years to transpose them.
- The Council adopted the sixth revision of the CMRD to align EU health and safety law with recent scientific developments.
- New occupational exposure limit values cover cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 1,4-dioxane and isoprene.
- Welding fumes were added to the substances, mixtures and processes listed in Annex I of the directive.
What the Council adopted
The Council of the EU adopted a set of revised rules intended to strengthen protection of workers from hazardous substances that can cause illnesses such as cancer or asthma. The measure is the sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD).
According to the Council, the revision updates EU health and safety legislation to bring it in line with the latest scientific developments.
Exposure limits and scope
The revised rules set occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 1,4-dioxane and isoprene. They also add welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes in Annex I of the directive.
The Council expects the revision to prevent around 1,700 lung cancer cases and 19,000 other illnesses over the next 40 years. That figure is a forecast, not an observed outcome.
Next steps
The directive enters into force when published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member states must transpose the revised rules into national law within two years of that entry into force.
When does the revised directive take effect, and how long do member states have to implement it?
It enters into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member states must transpose the revised rules into national law within two years of entry into force.
Sources & further reading
- Council greenlights measures to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances ↗consilium.europa.eu
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