Italy starts adapting to the EU Directive on chemical and carcinogenic agents

Despite the deadline indicated by the EU (5 April 2024) having passed, Italy initiated the process of transposing Directive 2022/431/EU on chemical agents and carcinogens in early June. The measure, dated 4 June 2024, refers to a subsequent legislative decree that will address several key areas. These include identification and risk assessment, as well as the exclusion or reduction of exposure, with the provision of relevant limit values. Other focus areas will be hygiene and personal protection measures, information and training of workers and their representatives, and consultation and participation. Finally, the decree will address health surveillance of exposed workers. Furthermore, the measure will guarantee adherence to Europe’s Beating Cancer plan dated 3 February 2021, by imposing specific responsibilities on employers, such as providing training and information, and by updating the existing health surveillance system.