A European Directive has been adopted which means that UK Government must introduce new UK noise regulations by April 2006.

Directive 2003/10/EC on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise), which will repeal Directive 86/188/EEC, was adopted on 9 December 2002 and came into force on 15 February 2003. The Directive tightens the legal requirements in relation to noise by lowering the exposure action values to 80 and 85 dB(A).