The European Biosafety Network (EBN) travelled to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 7–8 July 2025 for a critical round of meetings with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to address the ongoing threat posed by hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) to healthcare workers across the EU.

The discussions centred around the lack of enforcement of existing legal obligations under Directive (EU) 2022/431 the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD) which was adopted by the EU in March 2022 and transposed into national law by 5 April 2024. While this directive mandates the use of closed systems, regular staff training, and workplace monitoring for HMPs, implementation on the ground remains weak or nonexistent in many Member States.

The Strasbourg meetings, held with members of both the Public Health (SANT) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) committees, provided an opportunity for the EBN to offer expert evidence and policy proposals directly to the Parliament. These contributions were made in the context of a new joint own-initiative report titled “An EU Health Workforce Crisis Plan: Sustainability of Healthcare Systems and Employment and Working Conditions in the Healthcare Sector” (2025/2062(INI))

EBN used the occasion to highlight that HMPs, many of which are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, continue to be handled without sufficient safety precautions. Despite clear legal requirements, most hospitals still do not use closed systems, and training and awareness levels remain alarmingly low.

EBN advocated for three key inclusions in the final report:

  1. Full enforcement of the existing CMRD obligations in all EU Member States;
  2. Prioritisation of training, equipment and surveillance to protect staff;
  3. Recognition that the use of closed systems is a legal requirement, not an optional measure

The MEPs in attendance, all of whom have professional or political backgrounds in healthcare, expressed strong support for strengthening occupational protections. They invited the EBN to submit written evidence and participate in the amendment process, recognising the Network’s role as a leading authority in biosafety.