The Commission welcomes the political agreement between the European Parliament and Member States on the Commission's proposal to update the EU Directive on asbestos at work.

This marks an important step towards better protecting workers from the risks of exposure to asbestos. It is part of the Commission's comprehensive approach to better protect people and the environment from asbestos and ensure an asbestos-free future.  

Asbestos is a highly dangerous, cancer-causing substance that is still present in many of our buildings and is responsible for many avoidable deaths in the EU. Under the political agreement and in line with the latest scientific evidence, the new rules will ensure that no worker is exposed to a concentration of more than 0.01 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cm³) during a transitional period. This is ten times lower than the previous exposure limit.

After this transition period, the European Parliament and the EU Members States have agreed on a so-called “dual model”, which allows Members States to choose between:

• a limit value equal to 0.01 fibres per cm³ including thinner asbestos fibres; or
• a limit value equal to 0.002 fibres per cm³ without including thinner asbestos fibres.

The Commission will provide Member States with guidelines to facilitate the implementation of the revised Directive, covering aspects such as the transition towards more modern fibre-counting methods, training programmes and personal protective equipment.

The agreement also includes a transition period for Member States to shift to a more modern and sensitive method for counting asbestos fibres, namely from the current phase-contrast microscopy to electron microscopy.  

After the formal approval of the agreement by the European Parliament and the Council, Member States will have two years to incorporate the EU Directive into national law.

Background

Today’s agreement follows up to the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027, which highlighted the need to lower the exposure limit for asbestos at work.

Improving the health and safety of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances, such as asbestos, is part of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the Zero-Pollution Action Plan.

It also contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Commission has also announced in its 2023 work programme an upcoming initiative for the screening and registration of asbestos in buildings.