On 23 June 2026, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the sixth amendment to the Directive on Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances at Work (CMRD), providing stricter health protection for approximately 12 million EU workers.
Background
The Directive on Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances at Work (CMRD) sets out measures for the prevention and protection of workers against risks arising from exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work, and requires occupational exposure limit values (OELs) to be set where this is technically possible.
Following the 2017 evaluation of EU occupational safety and health directives, the CMRD has been updated regularly; to date, five amendments have been adopted, covering more than 40 key hazardous substances. On 18 July 2025, the European Commission published its proposal for the sixth amendment to the CMRD.
Key New Provisions
- New occupational exposure limit values (OELs) are established for the following substances:
- Cobalt and its inorganic compounds: Used in batteries (e.g., for electric vehicles), magnets and hard metal manufacturing. Exposure limit values are set for both inhalable and respirable fractions, with a six-year transitional period.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): Present in steel and aluminium production and welding fumes. New limit values apply, with a seven-year transitional period (limit values doubled), and the scope is extended to all carbon and graphite producers.
- 1,4-Dioxane: Used in the chemical and textile industries. General occupational exposure limit, short-term exposure limit and biological limit values are established.
- Isoprene: Used in the chemical and rubber industries. New occupational exposure limit values are added.
- Welding fumes are brought within the scope of the Directive, with emphasis on their potential reprotoxic properties. Employers are required to take necessary protective and preventive measures, while further guidelines are to be developed.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Workers wearing PPE are to be provided with regular breaks, and the relationship between PPE use rules and existing legislation is clarified.
- Other new elements:
- Updated definitions of "carcinogen", "mutagen" and "reprotoxic substance"
- A new clarification stating that the establishment of OELs does not completely eliminate health risks to workers
- Additional protection required for firefighting and emergency rescue personnel
- Member States required to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in complying with the new rules
Next Steps
The provisional agreement is subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council. The European Parliament is expected to vote during its October 2026 plenary session. Once adopted, Member States will be required to transpose the Directive into national law within the stipulated time limit.
