Exposure to hazardous substances at work: Council agrees its position on updated rules 10:02 The Council has agreed its position on the sixth revision of the carcinogens,[...]

Today, EU employment ministers have gone a step further towards preventing work-related diseases and protecting workers from exposure to harmful substances that can lead to serious illnesses such as cancer and developmental disorders.

The Council has agreed its position on the sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD). This revision seeks to update the rules on exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace in line with the latest scientific developments.

The revision is expected to prevent around 1,700 lung cancer cases and 19,000 other illnesses over the next 40 years.

The provisions of the sixth revision

The Commission's proposed update to the CMRD:

• sets exposure limits for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 1,4-dioxane
• adds welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes in Annex I of the directive

The Council's position

The Council has further enhanced the updated rules by adding an occupational exposure limit for isoprene, in line with the recommendations of the European Chemicals Agency and of the tripartite Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work.

The Council's position also updates the definitions of "carcinogen", "mutagen" and "reprotoxic substance" to reflect the inclusion for the first time in Annex I of an entry (welding fumes) with potentially reprotoxic effects. The existing definitions did not differentiate between the carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic effects of the substances, mixtures or processes listed in Annex I.

Other changes include:

• new recital wording stressing the importance of developing further guidance on welding fumes
• a new recital pointing out that limit values contribute to a significant reduction of risks arising from exposure to carcinogens and mutagens

Next steps

Once the European Parliament has established its position, the two institutions will enter into negotiations to agree on the final text.

Background

The carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD) sets out measures to prevent and protect against risks linked to exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances at work, and includes an obligation to establish limit values where possible.

Following an evaluation of the EU's occupational safety and health directives in 2017, the CMRD has undergone regular updates; five revisions have so far been adopted, addressing more than 40 key hazardous substances. On 18 July 2025, the Commission published a proposal for a sixth revision of the CMRD.

• Directive amending Directive 2004/37/EC as regards the addition of substances and setting limit values in its Annexes I, III and IIIa (Council's general approach)
• Protecting workers: health and safety at work (background information)