The European Biosafety Network has submitted a formal response to the European Commission’s targeted stakeholder consultation on the EU4Health work programme 2027, calling for the prevention of occupational exposure to hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) to be established as a dedicated priority action area.

HMPs are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances under Directive (EU) 2022/431, the revised Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD). Despite this binding legislative framework, transposition across Member States remains incomplete, workplace controls are poorly enforced, and no EU-wide exposure monitoring framework exists. Hundreds of thousands of oncology nurses, pharmacists and clinical staff across the EU continue to face preventable cancer risk, reproductive harm and chromosomal damage every working day.

In our submission, the EBN identified five specific areas where EU4Health 2027 funding could make a material difference:

  1. Developing a harmonised EU framework for HMP occupational exposure surveillance
  2. Supporting Joint Actions to promote consistent CMRD transposition and enforcement
  3. Developing EU-level guidance on closed-system drug transfer device (CSTD) implementation and safe HMP handling practices
  4. Funding cross-border training programmes for HMP-handling staff
  5. Integrating occupational cancer prevention for HMP-exposed workers into Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Results will be compiled in a summary report and published by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety.