18/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - United Kingdom requested to fully comply with asbestos legislation. The European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to the United Kingdom on Wednesday 16 February, requesting that it amend provisions in its legislation that exempt some maintenance and repair activities from the application of the European directive on protection of workers from asbestos. The Commission says that the British authorities are failing to comply with three explicit requirements “undermining the protection foreseen by EU law for workers exposed to asbestos”. The three obligations refer to: - notifying asbestos works to the responsible national authority; - making a prior health assessment for the workers and a new assessment every three years, for as long as exposure continues; - and keeping a register of the workers who are, or may be, exposed to asbestos at work. (O.L./transl.rt)