Limits on exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work

‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings aim to provide Members of the European Parliament with systematic and automatic analysis on all substantial proposals for EU legislation at every stage of the legislative procedure. Each contains an account of the purpose, content and legal aspects of the legislation proposed, in particular analysing what the legislation would change, as well as any previous legislation and the background. An overview of stakeholders’ views is also provided, as well as the opinions of national parliaments and the two advisory committees.

They are all made publicly available for stakeholders and the public.The European Commission proposes to amend Directive 2004/37/EC by expanding its scope and by including and/or revising occupational limit exposure values for a number of cancer-causing chemical agents in the light of new scientific data. According to the Commission, this would improve workers' health protection, increase the effectiveness of the EU framework and promote clarity for economic operators.

The initiative would proceed in two steps, with the current proposal of May 2016 and another to follow later in 2016. Broad discussions with scientists and the social partners fed into the proposal, and it has received a broad welcome from stakeholders. Trade unions nonetheless regret that certain substances are not included, and some on the employers' side oppose the limit value for respirable crystalline silica. The legislative process is in its initial stages, with the EMPL Committee of the European Parliament to consider the proposal in the coming months.

• Primary Source

EP: EPRS: Briefing: EU Legislation in Progress http://epthinktank.eu/eu-legislation-in-progress/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-directive-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-amending-directive-2004-37-ec-on-the-protection-of-workers-from-the-risks-related-to-exposure-to-carcinogens-or-mutagens-at-work/

ESO: Background information: Commission proposes better workers' protection against cancer-causing chemicals http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-proposes-better-workers-protection-against-cancer-causing-chemicals/

EP: EPRS: Briefing: Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment, July 2016: Protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens or mutagens http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/581419/EPRS_BRI(2016)581419_EN.pdf

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