EU beefs up dangerous chemicals laws to protect workers

EU ministers have passed a raft of amendments to the carcinogens and mutagens directive, a piece of legislation that protects workers from harmful substances.

The aim of the amendments is to make further improvements to workers' protection by setting exposure limits to dangerous chemicals like acrylonitrile and nickel compounds and lowering existing limits for benzene.

Read more: EU launches public consultation on revised chemicals labelling 

The beefed-up directive will also offer better protection against a set of chemicals called reprotoxins, which have a detrimental effect on the human reproductive system.

These were previously covered under a different law, but as part of the changes, reprotoxins are set to be transferred to the stricter carcinogens and mutagens at work directive, which will be renamed accordingly.

According to Commission data, more than one million workers are exposed to acrylonitrile and nickel compounds and benzene, and 52% of occupational deaths in the European Union each year are due to cancer.

As part of the EU's drive to tackle cancer, healthcare workers who deal with carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic drugs, and hazardous medicinal products, will receive better training on how to handle them safely. The new law stipulates that the Commission must issue guidelines on training, surveillance and monitoring of these products.

Read more: UK delays post-Brexit chemicals safety regime by 2 more years

According to the revised directive, the Commission must present an action plan to achieve new or revised occupational exposure limits values for at least 25 substances by the end of the year and present legislative proposals, where appropriate.

Member states have two years following the new directive's adoption to comply with the changes.

Back to Homepage

Back to Chemicals & Biochemicals