Gaozhou City,Guangdong, China-October 20, 2026

Updated in October 2026 following the European Parliament’s plenary approval.

Europe has moved another step closer to tightening workplace controls around welding fumes.

On October 6, 2026, the European Parliament adopted at first reading the negotiated text for the sixth revision of the EU Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD), Directive 2004/37/EC.

For welding businesses, industrial safety distributors and PPE buyers, this is a significant development—but it is important to understand exactly what has changed and, equally, what has not.

The key point is:

The revised welding-fume rules address occupational exposure at the workplace. They do not directly rewrite the CE standards for welding jackets or welding gloves.

EN ISO 11611, EN 12477 and EN 388 are product-performance standards used in welding PPE conformity assessment. The CMRD revision is workplace health legislation aimed at reducing workers’ exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances.

Those two regulatory systems interact in the workplace, but they are not the same thing.

For PPE buyers, understanding this distinction prevents two opposite mistakes: assuming nothing needs to change because existing gloves and clothing remain certified, or incorrectly assuming that all welding PPE now needs a new CE certificate.

What Has Actually Happened?

The European Commission proposed the sixth revision of Directive 2004/37/EC in July 2025.

One of its most relevant provisions for the welding industry is the proposed addition to Annex I of work involving exposure to fumes from welding processes containing substances that meet the criteria for classification as Category 1A or 1B carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances.

Welding fumes are complex mixtures. Depending on the welding process, consumables and base materials, they may contain substances such as chromium(VI), nickel compounds, cadmium and other hazardous constituents.

The Commission proposal referenced the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s classification of welding fumes as carcinogenic to humans and sought to provide clearer application of the CMRD to relevant welding-fume exposure.

The European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on June 23, 2026. Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee subsequently endorsed the negotiated text, and the European Parliament adopted it at first reading on October 6, 2026.

But the legislative process is not yet finished

As of October 14, 2026, the European Parliament’s Legislative Observatory lists the procedure as:

Awaiting Council’s 1st reading position.

The final legislative act must still complete the Council stage and subsequently be signed and published in the Official Journal of the European Union before the new directive enters into force.

Member States will then need to transpose the directive into national law. The negotiated framework provides a two-year transposition period following entry into force, while some occupational exposure limits have longer transitional arrangements.

So this is a major regulatory development—but not yet a rule that became fully applicable across the EU on October 6.

What Does the Revision Mean for Welding Fumes?

The most important conceptual change is greater legal clarity around welding operations that expose workers to fumes containing CMR substances.

The proposed Annex I entry covers work involving exposure to fumes from welding processes containing substances meeting the Category 1A or 1B criteria for carcinogenicity, mutagenicity or reproductive toxicity.

That does not mean every welding operation produces exactly the same hazard.

Welding fumes vary according to factors including:

• base metal;
• filler metal and electrodes;
• coatings and surface contamination;
• welding process;
• current and operating parameters;
• shielding conditions;
• workplace ventilation;
• duration and frequency of exposure.

For example, welding stainless steel may generate chromium and nickel-containing fumes, while other processes and materials create different exposure profiles.

The regulatory consequence is therefore not simply “welding fumes are banned” or “all welding requires a respirator.”

The workplace must assess the actual exposure and apply the appropriate hierarchy of controls.

The Most Important Point for PPE Buyers: This Is Not a New Welding Glove Standard

This is where procurement teams can easily misinterpret the update.

The revision concerns Directive 2004/37/EC, which regulates worker exposure to carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances at work.

It does not directly replace or amend:

• EN ISO 11611 for protective clothing used in welding and allied processes;
• EN 12477 for protective gloves for welders;
• EN 388 for mechanical risks;
• existing EU type-examination certificates issued under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 solely because the CMRD has been revised.

A welding glove certified to the applicable PPE requirements does not automatically become obsolete because the European Parliament has strengthened workplace welding-fume controls.

Likewise, a compliant welding jacket does not suddenly need a new CE marking simply because welding fumes are receiving greater occupational-health scrutiny.

These products address different hazards.

A leather welding jacket may protect against sparks, spatter, brief flame exposure and other relevant welding hazards.

A welding glove may provide thermal and mechanical hand protection.

Neither product filters contaminated air.

That distinction should remain explicit in product specifications, catalogues and marketing claims.

Welding Clothing and Gloves Must Not Be Marketed as Welding-Fume Protection

The new regulatory direction makes accurate PPE claims even more important.

A supplier should not state or imply that an EN ISO 11611 welding jacket “protects against welding fumes.”

Likewise, an EN 12477 welding glove should not be promoted as reducing inhalation exposure.

These products can be essential parts of the overall welding PPE system, but they address different exposure routes.

Welding fume is fundamentally an airborne-contaminant issue.

Exposure control therefore focuses primarily on:

eliminating or reducing the contaminant at source, controlling airborne concentration and, where residual exposure remains, providing suitable respiratory protection.

This distinction is particularly important for OEM and private-label buyers because inaccurate marketing claims can create a compliance problem even when the physical product itself has valid PPE documentation.

Engineering Controls Come Before Respiratory PPE

Another important lesson from the revised directive is the hierarchy of controls.

Respiratory protective equipment is not intended to replace effective source control.

The negotiated legislation maintains the CMRD approach requiring employers to eliminate or minimize exposure through technical and organizational measures.

Parliament also pushed for stronger safeguards concerning personal protective equipment.

The agreed framework addresses the use of PPE, particularly respiratory protective devices, where residual exposure remains after technical and organizational measures have been implemented. The PPE must be appropriately selected, maintained and adjusted to the individual wearer.

For welding operations, practical exposure controls may therefore include:

Local exhaust ventilation

Capturing welding fumes close to the arc can reduce the amount entering the worker’s breathing zone.

Source extraction may take the form of fixed local exhaust ventilation, movable extraction arms or integrated extraction systems depending on the application.

General workplace ventilation

General ventilation may help control background contamination but should not automatically be treated as a substitute for effective local capture where significant welding-fume exposure exists.

Welding process and consumable management

Fume generation can vary substantially between welding processes, consumables, materials and operating parameters.

Process optimization can therefore form part of exposure reduction.

Respiratory protective equipment

Where technical and organizational measures do not adequately reduce residual exposure, appropriate respiratory protection may be required.

The exact RPE selection depends on the contaminant, measured exposure, protection factor required, work duration, compatibility with other PPE and individual fit.

The revised framework reinforces an important procurement message:

Respiratory PPE should be selected around the residual exposure—not simply because the employee is a welder.

Why PAPR and Integrated Welding Protection May Receive More Attention

The revised rules do not mandate powered air-purifying respirators for every welder.

However, tighter occupational-exposure management is likely to increase attention to respiratory systems that can be integrated effectively into welding operations.

For industrial buyers, this may increase interest in combinations such as:

• welding helmets with respiratory protection;
• powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR);
• appropriate particulate filters;
• compatible face, head and respiratory protection;
• integrated welding and respiratory PPE systems.

This should be understood as a likely procurement response to stronger exposure management, not as a legal requirement that every European welder must use a PAPR.

The correct system depends on the employer’s exposure assessment.

For PPE distributors, that distinction matters commercially.

The market opportunity is not “Europe now requires PAPR for welding.”

The better interpretation is:

European employers will have stronger reasons to document how welding-fume exposure is controlled and whether residual exposure requires suitable RPE.

That may increase demand for higher-quality respiratory solutions, particularly in workplaces where local extraction alone cannot adequately control exposure.

The PPE System Is Becoming More Integrated

Historically, welding PPE procurement can be highly product-specific.

One buyer orders gloves.

Another orders jackets.

Another purchases helmets.

Respiratory protection may be handled by a separate safety department.

Welding-fume regulation pushes procurement toward a more integrated view of worker protection.

A complete risk assessment may now need to consider several protection layers simultaneously:

Hazard	Typical control or PPE consideration
Welding fumes	Source extraction, ventilation, process control, RPE where required
Arc radiation	Welding helmet, face and eye protection, protective clothing
Sparks and molten spatter	Welding jacket, apron, sleeves, gloves and other suitable clothing
Contact heat	Appropriate gloves and protective clothing
Mechanical hazards	Relevant hand and body protection
Heat stress	Work organization, environment, suitable PPE ensemble and recovery arrangements

No single item solves every welding hazard.

This is especially important for distributors developing welding-safety ranges: the commercial value increasingly lies in helping customers build compatible PPE systems rather than simply selling isolated products.

Does This Affect EN ISO 11611 Welding Clothing?

Not directly.

EN ISO 11611 specifies requirements for protective clothing used in welding and allied processes.

It addresses hazards associated with the welding process, including relevant heat, flame, molten-metal and optical-radiation exposures.

The CMRD revision addresses occupational exposure to hazardous substances in welding fumes.

Therefore:

EN ISO 11611 does not become a welding-fume respiratory standard because Directive 2004/37/EC changes.

An existing welding-clothing certificate should be evaluated according to the applicable PPE Regulation, relevant standards, product design and conformity documentation—not automatically reconsidered simply because the CMRD has been amended.

However, workplace PPE selection may evolve.

If an employer introduces respiratory equipment or a different welding helmet system, clothing compatibility may need to be reviewed.

For example:

• collar design should not interfere with respiratory equipment;
• jacket bulk should not compromise harnesses or breathing systems;
• helmet, hood and jacket coverage should not create unnecessary gaps;
• complete PPE ensembles should remain practical for the worker’s task and thermal environment.

This is an application-level implication, not a change to the EN ISO 11611 standard itself.

Does This Affect EN 12477 Welding Gloves?

Again, not directly.

EN 12477 addresses protective gloves for welders.

Its focus is on hazards affecting the hands during welding operations.

The revised occupational exposure rules do not convert welding gloves into respiratory PPE and do not automatically change an existing glove’s CE status.

For glove buyers, the practical implications are indirect.

Greater attention to exposure control may change the complete equipment system used by welders, but glove selection should continue to be based on hand hazards such as heat, spatter, dexterity and relevant mechanical risks.

Manufacturers should avoid unsupported language such as:”protects against welding fumes”or “compliant with the new EU welding-fume regulation” when describing an ordinary welding glove.

A more accurate statement would distinguish the glove’s tested protective performance from the employer’s broader welding-fume risk-management obligations.

What European Welding PPE Buyers Should Prepare For

The smartest response is not to start replacing every welding jacket or glove certificate.

Instead, procurement teams should separate the issue into two questions.

Question 1: Is our existing welding PPE documentation still correct?

For clothing and gloves, review:

• actual product identification;
• applicable PPE standards;
• EU type-examination documentation where required;
• EU Declaration of Conformity;
• markings and user instructions;
• consistency between delivered product and approved design.

The welding-fume directive revision does not remove these requirements or automatically invalidate compliant products.

Question 2: Does our workplace exposure-control system remain adequate?

For employers and industrial users, review:

• materials and welding processes;
• hazardous substances potentially present in fumes;
• exposure assessment and monitoring;
• effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation;
• general ventilation;
• technical and organizational controls;
• residual worker exposure;
• RPE selection where required;
• fitting, maintenance and compatibility of respiratory PPE.

These are related questions—but legally and technically they are not the same question.

What Distributors and OEM Brands Should Review Now

For welding PPE suppliers serving European customers, there are several practical steps worth taking before the revised directive completes the legislative process.

1. Audit product claims

Review websites, catalogues, packaging and technical datasheets.

Welding jackets and gloves should not make respiratory-protection or welding-fume claims unless supported by appropriate evidence and applicable requirements.

2. Keep product compliance documentation separate from workplace-exposure claims

A CE certificate for welding PPE demonstrates conformity within its applicable product scope.

It should not be presented as evidence that an employer complies with welding-fume exposure legislation.

3. Expect more technical questions from European customers

Safety managers may increasingly ask suppliers about compatibility between:

• welding helmets;
• respiratory protection;
• protective hoods;
• welding jackets;
• gloves;
• other PPE.

Manufacturers and distributors that understand the complete PPE system will be better positioned than suppliers who only answer questions about individual products.

4. Monitor the final legislative text

The October Parliament vote is a major step, but the process is not complete.

Buyers should monitor:

Council adoption → signature → Official Journal publication → entry into force → national transposition.

The final published directive—not a June provisional agreement or an October headline—will be the legal text that determines the next implementation stage.

What This Means for Welding PPE Sourcing

The direction of EU policy is clear.

Welding-fume exposure is receiving stronger regulatory attention, while employers are expected to rely on a hierarchy of controls rather than PPE alone.

For welding PPE buyers, that does not reduce the importance of gloves and protective clothing.

It clarifies their role.

A welding jacket protects the body against appropriate welding hazards.

Welding gloves protect the hands.

A welding helmet protects the eyes and face according to its intended design.

Respiratory protective equipment addresses airborne exposure when required.

Ventilation and extraction reduce contamination at source.

Effective welding safety comes from combining the correct controls—not asking one PPE product to solve every hazard.

That is the most important procurement lesson from the EU’s latest welding-fume legislation.

Final Takeaway

The European Parliament’s October 6, 2026 approval represents a real regulatory milestone for welding-fume exposure in Europe.

But three conclusions should remain clear:

First: the legislation has not yet completed the EU adoption process and should not be described as fully in force.

Second: it does not directly replace EN ISO 11611, EN 12477, EN 388 or automatically invalidate existing welding PPE certificates.

Third: it is likely to increase scrutiny of workplace welding-fume controls—including source extraction, exposure assessment and suitable respiratory protection where residual exposure remains.

For welding PPE distributors and OEM buyers, the best preparation is therefore not indiscriminate recertification.

It is understanding exactly which regulation controls which hazard, maintaining accurate product compliance documentation, and helping customers build a coherent welding-safety system.

About Us

Guangdong Ming Shun Labour Protective Products Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as “Mingshun”) is located in Pukang Industrial Park, Gaozhou City, Maoming, Guangdong Province, China. Formerly known as Gaozhou Mingshun Labor Protection Products Co., Ltd., the company has remained dedicated to the R&D and manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) since its establishment.

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