# Directive 2024/869 – lead (OEL, BLV) and diisocyanates

Directive (EU) 2024/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 amending Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 98/24/EC as regards the limit values for lead and its inorganic compounds and for diisocyanates

- Status: In force
- Legal order: European Union
- Legal area: Chemicals and worker health
- OJ L 2024/869, 19.3.2024
- Business profile: Smelting, Semi-fabrication, Recycling, Product manufacturers

## In brief

Lowers the lead OEL from 0.15 to 0.03 mg/m³ (non-threshold reprotoxic substance) and the binding BLV from 70 to 30, and from 2029 to 15 µg/100 ml; concerns lead smelting and refining, battery recycling, Cu and Pb alloy foundries.

## Key obligations

- OEL for lead and its inorganic compounds 0.03 mg/m³ (inhalable fraction, TWA 8 h), without a transitional value (Annex III to Directive 2004/37)
- biological monitoring of PbB by AAS or an equivalent method; BLV 30 µg/100 ml until 31.12.2028 (Annex IIIa, points 1.1–1.1.1)
- from 1.01.2029 BLV 15 µg/100 ml; a worker with PbB of 15–30 resulting from exposure before 9.04.2026 – may work where there is a downward trend (Annex IIIa, point 1.1.2)
- medical surveillance where exposure is >0.015 mg/m³ (TWA 40 h) or PbB >9 µg/100 ml; women of childbearing age >4.5 µg/100 ml (Annex IIIa, point 1.2)
- diisocyanates (NCO): 0.006 mg/m³, STEL 0.012; until 31.12.2028 0.01/0.02 mg/m³ (Annex I to Directive 98/24/EC)

## Competent authority

In PL: State Sanitary Inspection, National Labour Inspectorate; physician providing preventive health care

## Penalties

Through national provisions (in PL Art. 283 § 1 of the Labour Code)

## Entry into force

08.04.2024

## Application

transposition by 9.04.2026 (Art. 3); BLV 30 µg/100 ml until 31.12.2028, 15 µg/100 ml from 1.01.2029

## Key dates

- 08.04.2024: entry into force of the Directive
- 09.04.2026: transposition deadline; EU guidelines on health surveillance and biological monitoring (Art. 18a(11))
- 31.12.2028: end of the BLV of 30 µg/100 ml and of the transitional values for diisocyanates
- 01.01.2029: lead BLV 15 µg/100 ml
- 09.04.2029: evaluation of the limit values for lead by the Commission (Art. 18a(10))

## Related acts

- [CMRD – carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-cmrd/)
- [Directive 98/24/EC – chemical agents at work](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-cad/)
- [Regulation on Polish occupational exposure limits (NDS/NDN; lead 0.03 mg/m³)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-nds/)
- [Regulation of the Minister of Health – OHS and chemical agents (PbB 30/15)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-bhp-czynniki-chemiczne/)
- [Regulation on medical examinations of employees (lead – § 13a)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-badania-lekarskie/)

## Official sources

- [Text of the act](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/869/oj)
- [Consolidated text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02004L0037-20240408)
- [Council of the EU – note ST 13631/26 of 7.10.2026 (text of Annex IIIa as worded with lead 30/15 µg/100 ml)](https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13631-2026-INIT/en/pdf)

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Register as of: 22.10.2026. The official text of the act prevails. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/law/#akt-eu-cmrd-2024-869