Work is underway to implement Directive (EU) 2022/431 of the European Parliament and the Council of 9 March 2022, extending worker protection to include reprotoxic substances, i.e. substances that cause infertility, miscarriage or foetal malformation.

Reprotoxic substances include:

1. inorganic lead and its compounds, 
2. N,N-dimethylacetamide, 
3. nitrobenzene, 
4. N,N-dimethylformamide, 
5. 2-methoxyethanol, 
6. 2-methoxyethyl acetate, 
7. 2-ethoxyethanol, 
8. 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, 
9. 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 
10. mercury and inorganic divalent mercury compounds, including mercuric oxide and mercuric chloride (measured as mercury), 
11. bisphenol A; 4,4'-izopropylidene diphenol, 
12. carbon monoxide.

It will be the employer's duty to take into account reprotoxic substances in the tests and measurements of factors harmful to health in the working environment, periodic training of exposed employees or keeping a register of work whose performance makes it necessary to be in contact with these substances.

The deadline for implementing the directive was 5 April 2024.
 

Find more in the PRO HR April 2024.