The European Union (EU) has recently twice amended the framework Council Directive 90/394/CEE on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work: protective measures were extended to category 1 and 2 mutagens; a new carcinogenic agent was identified in "work involving exposure to hardwood dusts" and three exposure limit values were fixed for carcinogens. The EU Member States are required to incorporate amending Directives into national legislation not later than 29 April 2003. Italy acknowledged these directives by the Decree 66/00 of the 25/2/2000. In this paper the development and the evolution of European legislation in the twenty years from 1980 to 2000 are overviewed: first, occupational exposure limits were defined and introduced for harmful chemicals, then for occupational carcinogens and later three binding limit values for benzene, VCM and hardwood dusts were fixed. The paper attempts to identify the expected problems and advantages that incorporation of the amending Directives will have on the protection of workers from carcinogenic risk.