New EU Occupational Diseases Manual to Shape Future Chemical Regulations

For professionals in manufacturing, industrial processing, and occupational health, the 2025 manual marks a shift toward more evidence-based policymaking and compliance expectations around chemical exposures at work.

Improved disease reporting to support chemicals legislation

The EODS manual sets out a harmonised framework for reporting recognised occupational diseases, including fatal and non-fatal incidents linked to chemical exposures such as asbestos, silica dust, and solvents. Countries must submit data annually to Eurostat using standardised variables like disease type (ICD-10), exposure agent, severity, and affected sector.

This granular data is key to informing revisions of legislation such as:

• Directive 2004/37/EC (CMRD): Governing worker protection from carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances.
• Directive 98/24/EC: Covering broader chemical exposure risks in the workplace.
• Directive 2009/148/EC: Specific to asbestos at work.

By aligning occupational health statistics with regulatory action, the EU seeks to address emerging risks, refine exposure limits, and better protect workers.

Wider industry implications beyond manufacturing

The manual also calls for data on economic activity (NACE codes) and employment status, which affects stakeholders well beyond manufacturing. Sectors such as construction, mining, transportation, and even public administration (e.g., fire services) are expected to contribute data—highlighting the policy’s broad relevance.

The new guidelines will particularly influence small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often face higher OSH risks and limited internal reporting capacity.

Data-driven policymaking and long-term strategy

This revision supports the EU’s broader Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and strategic OSH frameworks. The collected data will underpin trend analyses, shape funding decisions, and drive future EU policy updates.

Eurostat’s EU Index, country profiles, and Statistics Explained articles will help stakeholders interpret these trends and assess compliance risks.