Ulrike Westphal has studied the transposition of Carcinogens Directive 90/394/EEC in Germany and its impact of the existing prevention system. Her report shows clearly how this European legislation slots into the German prevention system and especially to assess measures taken to replace carcinogens with safer products. This study is unique of its kind, because Directive 90/394/EEC does not require Member States to submit the same 5-yearly national reports on its application as the Framework Directive does. And yet such regular reports are essential to open the debate on the application of the Directives in the European institutions.

It is to be hoped that the provision will be restored in all future social "minimum requirements" Directives.