In adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mrs Outi OJALA (GUE/NGL, FIN), the
European Parliament approved the common position of the Council on the protection of workers
from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work while proposing several amendments
already approved at first reading:
- it repeated its request that the Commission should simplify the possibilities for setting limit values
for carcinogens, particularly those for which limit values based on health grounds have already been
obtained from scientific studies; limit values should be set as quickly as possible for all substances
listed as class 1 and 2 carcinogens in Annex VI to Directive 67/548/EEC;
- it expressed concern about the carcinogenic effects of arsenic and arsenic compounds, saying that
they should be added to the Community priority list of substances for scientific evaluation in order
to set limit values as soon as possible;
- it again proposed a uniform measuring procedure for determining the limit value for benzene in the
air.
It also wanted:
- removal of the transition measures advocated by the Council in its common position for setting a
limit value for benzene which could be applied after three years after incorporation of the directive
into national law (or six years after its entry into force throughout the Community);
- the Member States to incorporate the directive into national law before 31 December 1998 at the
latest (and not three years after its entry into force).
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