On Tuesday, plenary adopted with 614 votes in favour, 2 against and 4 abstentions a directive, already agreed with member states, that will decrease the occupational exposure limit of asbestos and calls for the use of more modern and accurate technology to detect the presence of thin asbestos fibres.

Lower level of exposure

The law aims to reduce exposure to asbestos fibres to the lowest possible level. The occupational exposure limit (OEL) will be ten times lower as the limit value will be decreased from 0.1 to 0.01 fibres of asbestos per cubic centimetre (cm³), without a transition period.

After a maximum transition period of six years, member states will have to switch to more modern and sensitive technology that can detect fibres, namely electron microscopy. They will then have the option to either decrease the level to 0.002 fibres of asbestos per cm³ excluding thin fibres, or to 0.01 fibres of asbestos per cm³ including thin fibres.

The new rules also include new requirements…