26/02/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 26 February, the EU Council gave the green light to the agreement reached with the European Parliament on new rules on exposure to lead and diisocyanates (see EUROPE 13292/22). This legislation amends Directives 2004/37/EC and 98/24/EC to provide better protection for workers against harmful substances. It establishes limit values for exposure to lead, reducing the occupational limit to 0.03 mg/m³ and the biological value to 15 µg/100 ml. Workers exposed to lead before this directive will benefit from regular medical surveillance. Stricter limits apply to workers of child-bearing age. Occupational and short-term exposure limits have been set for diisocyanates. The directive will come into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Member States will have two years to incorporate the standards into their legislation. The text adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/aqo (NP)