MEPs to vote on safety labels for the workplace

Products containing hazardous substances will have to be labelled.

Construction products containing hazardous substances will have to be clearly labelled to protect the health and safety of workers under new rules to be voted on by MEPs on Tuesday (18 January).

Members of the European Parliament’s internal market committee unanimously endorsed an agreement reached with member states when they met on 10 January.

Under the new regulation, the data for the “declaration of performance”, which is already required for every construction product, will have to include information on hazardous substances.

“I’m delighted that the construction industry now has a solid, workable regulation for the foreseeable future,” said Catherine Stihler, the UK Socialist MEP who has overseen the proposals during the discussions in the Parliament.

She said: “I’m confident that the improvements in CE marking, transparency, and rules for smaller companies, whilst retaining the highest standards of safety, will give the construction industry the reassurance it needs in the current economic climate.”

Transition period

Member states still need to give their final approval after the vote in parliament. The regulation will formally enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal. However, many of its provisions will apply only from 1 July 2013, as a transition period is needed to allow companies time to adjust.

The European Commission will also assess whether further information should be provided on hazardous substances, to take full account of the protection of workers’ health and safety. The Commission’s report may be followed by legislative proposals.

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