On 20 November, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs passed amendments concerning the third phase of revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive. Two of them improve the initial proposals of the European Commission, according to the ETUI.<\/p>\n
Parliament invites the Commission to take a legislative initiative before the end of 2019 regarding carcinogenic and mutagenic drugs for healthcare sector personnel who are in contact with them. It is estimated that in Europe about 12.7 million people – including more than 7 million nurses – currently working in the health sector are potentially exposed to such drugs, used notably for chemotherapy treatments.<\/p>\n
Another amendment aims to step up cooperation with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It ought to enhance legal security and complementarity between the legislation concerning worker protection and that regulating the market for chemical substances.<\/p>\n
The next stage with a view to the adoption of this third phase will be negotiations between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers, which are expected to begin soon under the Austrian presidency of the EU.<\/p>\n