Views sought on European regulation on biocides

E60:09 29 July 2009

Views are being sought on European proposals for a revised regime for regulating the placing on the market and use of biocides.

Biocides include disinfectants, preservatives and pest control agents used to control harmful organisations such as bacteria, fungi and rodents.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a 10-week consultation on the European Commission proposal, which will apply directly in the UK and will eventually revise and replace the current Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) 98/8/EC.

The regulation will also result in the repeal of the Biocidal Products Regulations 2001 and the Biocidal Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, which transpose the current BPD into UK law.

The consultation will close on Monday 5 October 2009.

Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE, said:

"This is an important opportunity to improve a Europe-wide regulatory regime and we are consulting widely to ensure that workable regulations are brought forward, which reflect a common sense and proportionate approach to dealing with the risks posed by biocides."

The new draft regulation proposes several important changes to the current approach to dealing with biocides, including:

• Extending the scope of the regime to cover treated articles and materials containing biocides
• Adopting a Community authorisation scheme for certain types of products
• Requiring mandatory data-sharing of some animal testing data
• Reducing the burden of data collection requirements
• Harmonising fee structures across member states

A workshop exploring the issues raised by the proposed regulation will be hosted by HSE in September 2009.

• HSE is seeking views to inform the UK's negotiating position on the proposed regulation, which is scheduled to come into effect on 1 January 2013.

HSE is involved in negotiations on behalf of the UK Government with other member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament. These negotiations will result in the development of a new EU law.

Notes to editors

1. The European Commission has proposed a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products. The proposed European Regulation will, over a period of time, revise and replace the current regulatory framework for the marketing and use of biocidal products contained in the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) 98/8/EC (as amended). The BPD is currently transposed into domestic UK law by the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR) 2001 ([SI 2001/880] as amended).
2. HSE, on behalf of the UK Government, is involved in a process of negotiations which began in July 2009 that includes all 27 Member States of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament. These negotiations will result in the development of a new directly-acting EU law.
3. The European Commission published its proposal for the new Regulation on 12 June 2009, and it can be viewed online at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:DKEY=496597:EN:NOT
4. Biocidal products are chemicals or micro-organisms used to control organisms that are harmful to human or animal health and for the control of organisms that can cause damage to natural or manufactured products. Biocides are used in a very wide variety of non-agricultural situations; examples include wood preservatives, insecticides, disinfectants and embalming fluids. They are distinct from 'agricultural pesticides', which are regulated by the Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EC, and veterinary medicinal products, which are regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directive 2002/82/EC.
5. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office