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Sixth review of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD)
Sixth review of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD)
Philipp Jauernik, Members' Research Service
Summary
In June 2026, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the European Commission's proposal for a sixth revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD). The proposal seeks to strengthen workers' protection from exposure to hazardous substances at work. Parliament is due to vote on the text resulting from interinstitutional negotiations during the October I part-session.
Translations are available for this publication.
Statement of purpose
First-reading report: 2025/0232(COD); Committee responsible: EMPL; Rapporteur: Liesbet Sommen (EPP, Belgium). For further information see our initial appraisal.
Background
Cancer is the leading cause of work-related deaths in the EU. Around 80 000 people are estimated to die each year as a result of occupational exposure to carcinogens. Directive 2004/37/EC lays down measures to prevent or reduce workers' exposure to such cancer-causing substances, including binding occupational exposure limit values (OELs). The directive has been revised five times, covering more than 40 hazardous substances. The sixth revision follows requests from Parliament and the Council to continue setting new or revised OELs, and forms part of the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027.
European Commission proposal
In July 2025, the Commission proposed a sixth revision of the CMRD. The Commission estimates that over 2.6 million workers are exposed to the substances covered by its impact assessment (IA). The proposal would introduce new or updated OELs for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 1,4-dioxane. Transitional limit values would apply to cobalt and its inorganic compounds and to PAHs, to give affected sectors additional time to adapt. The proposal would also introduce a biological limit value for 1,4-dioxane. Work involving exposure to welding fumes containing carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances would be added to Annex I to the directive. The IA also assessed whether to establish an OEL for isoprene, but concluded that existing workplace exposure levels were already below the health-based limit identified by the European Chemicals Agency, and the Commission therefore did not include it in its proposal.
European Parliament position and interinstitutional agreement
Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) adopted its report in April 2026. The Council had adopted its general approach in December 2025. Both co-legislators supported the proposed OELs, and sought to add an OEL for isoprene. Parliament proposed stronger provisions on personal protective equipment (PPE), hazardous medicinal products, firefighters and emergency services, welding fumes, exposure data and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. A provisional agreement was reached on 23 June 2026. EMPL endorsed the provisional agreement on 2 September (with 42 votes in favour, 2 against, and 10 abstentions). The agreement retains the new or updated OELs and adds an OEL for isoprene. For PAHs, the co-legislators extended the transitional period from six to seven years and broadened the range of sectors likely to benefit to all carbon and graphite manufacturers. The agreement maintains the inclusion of welding fumes in Annex I and introduces additional safeguards on the use of PPE. Member States will have two years from the directive's entry into force to transpose its provisions, with longer transitional periods for certain OELs.
Classification
Policy areas: Employment
Regions: European Union
Committees: Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Statement on the use of AI
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Disclaimer
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