Directive 2020/739 - Amendment of Annex III to Directive 2000/54/EC as regards the inclusion of SARS-CoV-2 in the list of biological agents known to infect humans - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 175/11

The Union strives to maintain its high standards for ensuring adequate protection of workers’ health, which is particularly relevant in the context of a global health pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19, a new coronavirus disease, has affected all Member States since early 2020 and is causing major disruptions to all sectors and services, directly impacting the health and safety of all workers across the Union.

More than ever, strict compliance with and application of national provisions transposing Union rules on safety and health at work are of utmost importance. Directive 2000/54/EC lays down rules to protect workers against risks to their health and safety, including the prevention of such risks, arising or likely to arise from exposure to biological agents at work. It applies to activities in which workers are exposed, or are potentially exposed, to biological agents as a result of their work, and states the measures to be taken in the case of any activity likely to involve a risk of exposure to biological agents, to determine the nature, degree and duration of workers’ exposure to such agents.

Annex III to Directive 2000/54/EC sets out the list of biological agents known to infect humans, classified according to their level of risk of infection. In line with introductory note 6 in that Annex, that list should be amended to take into account the latest knowledge as regards scientific and epidemiological development that have brought about significant changes, including the existence of new biological agents.

In October 2019, Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1833 (2) amended Annex III to Directive 2000/54/EC, which resulted notably in the addition of a large number of biological agents, including the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-virus) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-virus).

The virus ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2’ or, in short, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, which caused the outbreak of COVID-19, shows great similarities with the SARS-virus and the MERS-virus. Considering the epidemiological and clinical data currently available concerning the virus’ characteristics such as its transmission patterns, clinical features and risk factors for infection, SARS-CoV-2 should be added to Annex III to Directive 2000/54/EC as a matter of urgency, to ensure the continued adequate protection of workers’ health and safety at work.

SARS-CoV-2 can cause severe human disease among the infected population, presenting in particular a serious hazard to elderly workers and those with an underlying medical problem or chronic disease. While there is no vaccine or effective treatment currently available, considerable efforts are being deployed internationally and a significant number of vaccine candidates have so far been identified. Taking into account the latest scientific evidence and clinical data available as well as advice provided by experts representing all Member States, SARS-CoV-2 should therefore be classified as a risk group 3 human pathogen. Several Member States, as well as EFTA States and other...