Isocyanates

Netherlands Publishes Q1 2026 Overview of Implemented and Pending EU Directives

The Dutch parliament has published a Q1 2026 overview of EU directive transposition, confirming implementation of the new lead and diisocyanate occupational exposure limit directive and highlighting numerous environment and climate files still pending in the Netherlands. This gives compliance teams clear visibility that Dutch law already reflects the stricter OELs, while signalling that major air, water, waste, energy-efficiency and asbestos measures remain open and should be factored into medium-term regulatory planning.

23 May 2026, 09:16zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

France Adopts Decree 2026-253 Updating Occupational Exposure Limits For Lead, Diisocyanates And Diesel Exhaust And Asbestos Monitoring Rules

France has adopted Decree 2026-253 implementing new EU-derived occupational exposure and biological limit values for lead, diisocyanates and diesel exhaust, while tightening labour-inspection powers and asbestos measurement reporting from 2026 onward. This materially raises chemical and HSE compliance expectations across French industry, requiring employers to update exposure controls, health surveillance and response procedures ahead of the 2029 diisocyanate and blood-lead deadlines.

20 May 2026, 17:51eur-lex.europa.euFrance

France Sets Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit for Diisocyanates and Deletes Indicative Diesel Exhaust Value

France has introduced a new indicative occupational exposure limit for diisocyanates and reclassified the diesel engine exhaust limit as binding through an order adopted in April 2026. This raises expectations on how employers manage worker exposure to isocyanates and diesel exhaust, making it important to revisit risk assessments, controls, and monitoring against the updated benchmark values.

20 May 2026, 08:33legifrance.gouv.frFrance

ECHA Invites Information on Long-Term Fish Toxicity Test Proposal for 1,3-Bis(isocyanatomethyl)benzene (CAS 3634-83-1)

ECHA has opened a REACH testing proposal consultation on long-term fish toxicity for 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)benzene, with third-party data due by 12 June 2026. Registrants and other stakeholders should quickly identify any existing studies or read-across arguments that could satisfy this endpoint and avoid unnecessary vertebrate testing while shaping future classification and risk assessment outcomes.

3 May 2026, 07:31echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands Plans New Sprayed PUR Foam Rules in Bbl and Omgevingsregeling, Confirms New Diisocyanate Limits

In April 2026 the Dutch housing minister outlined upcoming changes to the Building Decree (Bbl) and Omgevingsregeling for sprayed PUR foam and confirmed that new EU diisocyanate exposure limits took effect in the Netherlands on 9 April 2026. These measures will introduce binding MDA content and process requirements, stronger information and post‑work control duties for installers, and new guidance and health‑protocol updates, so insulation suppliers and building contractors should prepare for tighter supervision and worker‑exposure controls.

29 Apr 2026, 12:12open.overheid.nlNetherlands

BCF Publishes PaintSafe Online Guidance for Vehicle Refinish and Industrial Paint Sales

The British Coatings Federation has consolidated legal obligations from UK REACH, CLP, ADR, the EU VOC paints directive, the Poisons Act and related rules into a new PaintSafe online guidance resource for businesses selling and transporting vehicle refinish and industrial paints via online channels. This gives smaller coatings sellers a practical compliance checklist on supply-chain roles, SDS provision, hazard and VOC labelling, diisocyanate training warnings, poisons and explosives-precursor controls, and dangerous-goods transport so they can reduce enforcement and reputational risk when trading in Great Britain and into the EU/NI.

28 Apr 2026, 19:54coatings.org.ukUnited KingdomEuropean Union

Ireland Adopts S.I. 128/2026 Amending Workplace Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Regulations

Ireland has adopted S.I. 128/2026 to amend its workplace carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances regulations in line with Directive (EU) 2024/869, with the changes taking effect from 9 April 2026. The update tightens the legal framework for classifying and controlling exposure to lead compounds and diisocyanates, requiring employers to revisit hazard classifications, risk assessments, and Code of Practice implementation to ensure compliance with the new limit value regime.

24 Apr 2026, 12:17irishstatutebook.ieIrelandEuropean Union

Norway Updates Occupational Exposure Limits for Diisocyanates and Lead

Norway has amended its occupational exposure limit regulation to implement Directive (EU) 2024/869, introducing new binding airborne and biological limit values for diisocyanates and for lead and inorganic lead compounds from 10 April 2026. These tighter limits and the 30 December 2028 transition period will require employers across isocyanate- and lead-using activities to strengthen exposure controls, monitoring, and substitution planning to keep worker exposures within future thresholds.

23 Apr 2026, 10:34lovdata.noNorwayEuropean Union

Austria (Salzburg) Amends Employee Protection Regulation To Apply 2025 OEL And Health Surveillance Ordinances

Salzburg has amended its Employee Protection Regulation 2021 to apply Austria’s 2025 occupational exposure limit and workplace health-surveillance ordinances, with the changes entering into force on 9 January 2026. Public-sector employers in Salzburg must now align risk assessments, exposure controls, and worker health monitoring with updated national and EU requirements for hazardous substances including lead, diisocyanates, asbestos, and biological agents, tightening compliance expectations for public workplaces.

23 Apr 2026, 08:38ris.bka.gv.atAustria

Ireland Adopts S.I. 127/2026 Updating Workplace Chemical Agents Rules for EU Lead and Diisocyanates Limits

From 9 April 2026, Ireland’s S.I. 127/2026 amends the national Chemical Agents Regulations so that new EU limit values for lead and diisocyanates are implemented through an updated Code of Practice and strengthened health-surveillance requirements. This effectively tightens employers’ duties across all sectors using these substances, requiring revised risk assessments, exposure monitoring, and medical surveillance to align with the updated EU occupational and biological exposure limits.

23 Apr 2026, 08:35irishstatutebook.ieIreland

Bulgaria Amends Worker Protection Ordinances to Implement New Lead and Diisocyanate Limit Values

In April 2026 Bulgaria amended its worker protection ordinances to implement much lower occupational and biological limit values for lead and diisocyanates, and to introduce a new biological reference value for nickel, in line with Directive (EU) 2024/869. Employers with workplaces in Bulgaria using lead, nickel or diisocyanates must reassess exposure controls and health surveillance programmes ahead of the 9 April 2026 entry into force and the stricter 1 January 2029 thresholds to avoid non-compliance and worker health risks.

14 Apr 2026, 18:15dv.parliament.bgBulgaria

ECHA Updates Regulatory Needs Assessment for 1-Isocyanato-2-(methoxymethyl)-3-methyl-benzene

ECHA has updated its Assessment of Regulatory Needs list for 1-Isocyanato-2-(methoxymethyl)-3-methyl-benzene, confirming its inclusion in the isocyanates group assessment that recommends EU-level risk management via broader REACH restrictions and an expanded isocyanate OEL approach. This signals that uses of this isocyanate in polyurethane coatings, adhesives, sealants and related applications may face stricter worker-training, use-condition and potential consumer restrictions once the proposed Annex XVII and OEL changes are developed and adopted.

13 Apr 2026, 17:22echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Finds No Immediate Need for Additional REACH Restriction on Consumer Uses of Isocyanates

ECHA has published a further assessment of regulatory needs for consumer uses of isocyanates under REACH Annex XVII, concluding in March–April 2026 that no immediate new restriction is warranted. This lowers near-term risk of additional consumer bans or conditions on isocyanate-containing adhesives, sealants and foams (including the assessed reaction mass), though future revisions of Entries 56 and 74 remain possible if new evidence emerges.

10 Apr 2026, 19:55echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Poland Tightens Workplace Exposure Limits for Diisocyanates, Lead and Asbestos (DU 2026/447)

Poland has implemented stricter occupational exposure limits for diisocyanates, lead, and asbestos, effective April 2, 2026, with phased tightening through 2029. Companies must overhaul workplace monitoring and engineering controls for polyurethane, lead, and chemical processes to meet significantly lower exposure thresholds and ensure long-term compliance.

5 Apr 2026, 19:07dziennikustaw.gov.plPoland

Luxembourg Government Proposes New Lead and Diisocyanates Limits in Workplace Chemical Regulations

Luxembourg has proposed significantly lower occupational exposure and biological limit values for lead and new limits for diisocyanates to align with EU standards. Businesses must prepare for enhanced medical surveillance and stricter operational controls ahead of phased compliance deadlines through 2029.

5 Apr 2026, 05:22cc.luLuxembourg

Carinthia Aligns Employee Protection Regulation With GKV 2025 and EU Limit Values for Asbestos, Lead and Diisocyanates

Carinthia has updated its employee protection regulations to adopt Austria’s 2025 federal limit values and EU standards for lead, diisocyanates, and asbestos. Public-sector operators must implement stricter occupational exposure limits and health surveillance protocols to maintain compliance with harmonized European safety requirements.

1 Apr 2026, 14:14ris.bka.gv.atAustria

Finland Updates Workplace CMR Decree To Implement EU Lead And Diisocyanate Limits

Finland has transposed Directive (EU) 2024/869, mandating significantly lower occupational and biological exposure limits for lead and diisocyanates. Employers must implement stricter operational controls and enhanced medical surveillance ahead of the 2029 deadline to mitigate long-term compliance and health risks.

29 Mar 2026, 17:43eur-lex.europa.euFinland

Netherlands Parliament Motion Requests National Guidance for PUR Oversight

The Dutch Parliament is reviewing a proposal to establish national guidance for uniform polyurethane oversight and enforcement across all municipalities. This move toward risk-based supervision aims to harmonize compliance expectations and reduce administrative burdens for the construction and insulation sectors.

28 Mar 2026, 20:36zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Latvia: Cabinet Updates Workplace Lead and Diisocyanate Limits Under Carcinogen and Chemical Rules

Latvia has introduced significantly tighter occupational exposure limits and biological monitoring triggers for lead and diisocyanates, effective April 2026. Impacted businesses must immediately revise health surveillance and air monitoring protocols to prepare for the expiration of transitional limits in 2028.

22 Mar 2026, 14:08vestnesis.lvLatvia

Poland Proposes Lead Biological Limit Value Changes Under Workplace Chemical Agents Regulation

Poland has proposed lowering the workplace biological limit value for lead to 30 µg/100 ml blood starting April 2026. Companies must tighten exposure controls and medical surveillance now to prepare for a further mandatory reduction to 15 µg/100 ml by 2029.

14 Mar 2026, 16:30legislacja.gov.plPoland