As reported by the AI GROUP this week, uniform European-wide limit values for diisocyanates are set to be introduced for the first time. The European Parliament has already approved the Commission’s proposal; all that remains is the European Council’s approval, which is considered a mere formality. This means the new law could take effect in just a few weeks.
The aim of this legislative package is to establish new, uniform exposure limits for diisocyanates and lead across all member states. Together with the mandatory training programs already adopted (“isocyanate license”), the new exposure limits are intended to better protect approximately 4 million workers in Europe from the health effects associated with PUR processing. It is estimated that approximately 9–15% of all asthma cases among working adults are attributable to exposure to diisocyanates. According to current estimates, around 2.4 million companies across Europe will be affected by the new regulations governing PUR processing.
Currently, the majority of countries have set their own exposure limits—for example, 17 µg NCO/m³ applies in Germany, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The new law establishes the following exposure limits:
During the transition period until the end of 2028:
- 10 μg NCO/m³ for an 8-hour workday in manufacturing or processing
- 20 μg NCO/m³ for short-term exposure of up to 15 minutes
- 6 μg NCO/m³ for an 8-hour workday in manufacturing or processing
- 12 μg NCO/m³ for short-term exposure of up to 15 minutes
Sources
: KI WEB: UPDATE - PUR INDUSTRY: European Parliament Confirms First Limit Values for Diisocyanates: – Plastics Information (kiweb.de)
You can find the latest information on the new EU directive here: European Council
