European Workplace Limit Values OEL (BOELV, IOELV):
The EU establishes workplace limit values and biological limit values for its member states.
- BOELV (Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Values): values established at EU level, for which member states must establish a corresponding national workplace limit value that is based on the EU limit value but does not exceed it. BOELVs consider socioeconomic considerations. Legal basis: Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents and Carcinogens Directive 2004/37/EC.
- IOELV (Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values): health-based, non-binding values derived from the latest available scientific data and considering the availability of reliable measurement methods. They serve as orientation values for member states. Legal basis: Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents.
These and other international assessment standards are published by the German Statutory Accident Insurance for an overview of the guidelines in lists:
- BOELV: IFA - Occupational exposure limit values (OELs): Binding occupational exposure limit values (OELs) of the European Commission
- National values of 24 other countries: IFA - list of international limit values ILV
User protection for plant protection products (AOEL):
For new approvals of plant protection products in Switzerland and the EU, active substances are only approved if they are not carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR), or considered as endocrine disruptors (ED). For the risk assessment of users, a toxicological limit value is derived for each active substance, called the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL).User protection for biocidal products (AEL):Switzerland is closely harmonized with the EU biocidal product approval through a mutual recognition of conformity assessments (MRA). In addition, national approvals for biocidal products are possible. For the risk assessment for users, a toxicological limit value is derived for each active substance, called the Acceptable Exposure Level (AEL).
Reference values of the RAC:
Reference DNELs and dose-response relationships are used by the RAC in the assessment of authorization applications; they are recommended to applicants as reference values for the risk assessment to be submitted in the authorization application. SECO also uses these reference values for the assessment of national authorization applications for substances according to Annex 1.17 of the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance, ChemRRV (SR 814.81). These values can also be found in the Excel list "Health-based assessment values of SECO for selected substances with particularly health-endangering properties (XLSX, 34 kB, 20.06.2025)" (in german).
