I posted in 2017 about new developments with the European Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (2004/37/EC). Find this in the Chemicals archive on this Blog.
A new proposal is now made (the third legislative amendment since the start of this European Commission. Note : the Directive was already amended before these current developments). This third amendment is here. In total, there are three current amendments outlined in this Blog post.
Apart from the third amendment, two previous legislative amendments were proposed by the Commission, in May 2016 and January 2017. Together they proposed limit values to 20 carcinogens. The first of these proposals (the 2016 one) was adopted by the co-legislators as Directive (EU) 2017/2398 (which is an amendment to Directive 2004/37/EC).
NB : Member States have until the start of 2020 to implement Directive (EU) 2017/2398.
The first revision adds 13 new or stricter exposure limits to the EU Directive. Respirable crystalline silica dust, benzene and vinyl chloride monomer are three of the substances affected.
The second proposal for legislative amendments (the 2017 one) is currently being discussed by legislators. The second revision sees new binding occupational exposure limits (Boels), and in some cases skin notations set for:
trichloroethylene;
4,4-methylenedianiline;
epichlorohydrine;
ethylene dibromide;
ethylene dichloride; and
mixtures containing benzo(a)pyrene.
As part of this latest (third) amendment to the CMD, five carcinogens of high relevance for the protection of workers are selected:
• Cadmium and its inorganic compounds;
• Beryllium and inorganic beryllium compounds;
• Arsenic acid and its salts, as well as inorganic arsenic compounds;
• Formaldehyde;
• 4,4′-Methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA).
Background
The EU principles of worker protection from carcinogens are laid out in the over-arching Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Framework Directive 89/391/EEC and those Directives specifically dealing with chemical risks – notably the Chemical Agents Directive (CAD) and the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD).
Under the OSH framework, risks to the safety and health of workers must be eliminated, or, if total elimination is not possible, reduced to a minimum. Employers must identify and assess risks to workers associated with exposure to specific carcinogens and mutagens at the workplace, and must prevent exposure where risks occur. Where this is technically possible, substitution with a non- or less-hazardous process or chemical agent is required. In cases where such substitution is not possible, chemical carcinogens must, as far as it is technically possible, be manufactured and used in a closed system to prevent workers’ exposure. Where this is not possible either, worker exposure must be reduced to as low a level as is technically possible.
The Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD) sets a number of general provisions to prevent or reduce exposure for all carcinogens and mutagens falling under its scope. In addition to these general minimum requirements, the CMD indicates occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for all those carcinogens or mutagens for which this is possible, as an essential means to protect workers.
From time to time, there are revisions proposed to the CMD (and the CAD).
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Email Alerts are issued closer to the date when Member States must implement the changes to the EU law. Otherwise, please continue to follow this Blog.
Brexit
The first of these amendments must be implemented by early in January 2020. It is not known if the UK will implement this amendment.
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