After having consulted ECHA Risk Assessment Committee (2018) and the tripartite EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety (2019), preparatory activities by the European Commission have progressed.
On 22 September, the Commission issued its legislative proposal to set EU BOELVs (Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Value) for nickel compounds under the 4th revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens at Work Directive. Crucially, the Commission has followed the ACSH (Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at workplace) opinion, which was reached with the agreement of all three interest groups within the ACSH (governments, employers, trade unions) and has proposed the following OEL values and transitional periods for nickel compounds
The Commission’s proposal is now being submitted in parallel to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU (Member States), the two co-legislators, which will have to jointly examine and adopt the legislation. The tentative timeline is as follows:
- Q4 2020 : Examination by the EP and the EU Council and beginning of legislative work / negotiations.
- 2021 : adoption of legislation;
- 2023 : transposition into national law.
Once adopted, the legislation will be published in the EU Official Journal. Member States will have 2 years to transpose the Directive at national level (for the application of specific OELVs, agreed transitional periods shall apply).