Council of the EU Seeks Updates to Directive on Exposure to Hazardous Substances
The Council of the European Union has proposed to add an occupational exposure limit for isoprene to the sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD), which is intended to protect workers in the EU from exposures to harmful substances. The council also seeks to update the CMRD’s definitions of mutagen, carcinogen, and reprotoxic substance to reflect the potentially reprotoxic effects of welding fumes.
According to a press release published by the council, the latest revision of the CMRD proposed by the European Commission includes provisions that set exposure limits for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 1,4-dioxane. The commission also proposes adding welding fumes to the list of hazardous substances, mixtures, and processes in Annex I of the CMRD.
The council and the commission are two of the institutions that provide direction on policy and regulation in the EU. The European Chemicals Agency previously recommended an OEL for isoprene of 3 ppm (8.5 mg/m3) as an eight-hour time-weighted average.
The council also supports new wording intended to highlight “the importance of developing further guidance on welding fumes” and explain “that limit values contribute to a significant reduction of risks arising from exposure to carcinogens and mutagens.”
Once the European Parliament establishes its position on the sixth revision of the CMRD, negotiations regarding the final text will begin.
For further information, see the press release from the Council of the EU.