The European Parliament and the Council of the EU are expected to meet again on Wednesday 15 December to discuss the 4th revision of the directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work.
At the last inter-institutional (trilogue) meeting on Thursday 9 December, discussions on the inclusion of reprotoxins had reportedly progressed, something that has been a long-standing demand of the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12687/12, 11735/23). The co-legislators would move towards the creation of a third category – a proposal championed by the European Commission.
Regarding ‘hazardous medicinal products’ (HMPs), negotiations have reportedly stalled over including them in Annex I of the Directive. Discussions would focus on extending the scope of the directive, with some derogations for cancer treatments. The talks are likely to focus on this in particular.
The risk-based approach (see EUROPE 12835/24) proposed by the European Parliament would, at present, be an approach that would be difficult to accept for the EU Council. Talks should also include an action plan by the European Commission to introduce 25 mutagenic and carcinogenic substances.
After a break of several months, negotiations have resumed following a relaxation in November of the EU Council’s negotiating mandate, notably on the inclusion of reprotoxic substances (see EUROPE 12832/22). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)