Cobalt users warn EU health rules threaten minerals supply push

Published: Jun 24, 2026 18:01

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Some of the European Union’s top cobalt users warn that planned rules to protect workers’ health will instead threaten the bloc’s push to bolster its mineral supply chains and industries like energy and defense.

The European Commission will on Tuesday decide whether to approve legislation to reduce workers’ exposure to cobalt dust and particles to safeguard against cancers and other respiratory illnesses. But companies involved in the supply chain say the proposed limits are too strict, costly and challenging to meet, and risk closing businesses and diverting investments away from the EU.

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