Belgium · Asbestos and chemicals · 2025–2027 changes
Belgium: new asbestos rules and lower lead and diisocyanate limits (2026)
Two royal decrees change the Belgian Code of Well-being at Work: one on asbestos from December 2025, and one on lead and diisocyanates published in June 2026.
Short answer
The royal decree of 19 December 2025 on asbestos applies from 22 December 2025, and from 21 December 2027 airborne fibres must be measured by electron microscopy only. The royal decree of 25 May 2026, published on 3 June 2026, lowers the lead limit to 0.03 mg/m³ and sets diisocyanate limits of 10 / 20 µg NCO/m³, falling to 6 / 12 from 1 January 2029. SPF Emploi: asbestos · SPF Emploi: lead and diisocyanates
Asbestos: what changed
- Quality requirements for the people who draw up asbestos inventories.
- Training organisers for asbestos removal workers must be on the FPS list.
- Basic training and refresher training each last at least 8 hours. The same course does not have to be repeated automatically.
- From 21 December 2027, fibre measurements must use electron microscopy only.
SPF Emploi: adaptation of the asbestos rules · SPF Emploi: asbestos FAQ
Lead and diisocyanates
- Lead: air limit 0.03 mg/m³; biological limit 30 µg/100 ml blood, falling to 15 µg/100 ml from 1 January 2029.
- Diisocyanates: 10 µg NCO/m³ (8-hour) and 20 µg NCO/m³ (short-term), falling to 6 and 12 from 1 January 2029.
SPF Emploi: new exposure limits
What employers should do
- Review risk assessments and measurements against the new limits.
- Check health surveillance for workers exposed to lead.
- Check your asbestos inventory and the laboratory method used for fibre counts before December 2027.
Asbestos Awareness Course
Learn the course online. A certificate is available if you need one.
Official sources
- Adaptation de la réglementation sur l’amianteemploi.belgique.be · Checked 2026-10-30
- Amiante: questions fréquentesemploi.belgique.be · Checked 2026-10-30
- Nouvelles valeurs limites: plomb et diisocyanatesemploi.belgique.be · Checked 2026-10-30