The HSE biocides website explains the provisions and duties of GB biocides law and what you need to do to comply.
Sometimes UK law has amended GB law. When this happens, you'll need to check both sets of laws.
The following list of EU biocides regulations are now assimilated GB law:
- Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) - the GB law on biocides (Reg (EU) 528/2012)
- Changes Regulation the GB law on making changes to biocidal product authorisations under BPR (Reg (EU) 354/2013)
- Same Biocidal Products Regulation - the GB law on applying for a same biocidal product authorisation under BPR (Reg (EU) 414/2013)
- Review Regulation - the GB law on implementing the Review Programme of biocidal active substances (Reg (EU) 1062/2014)
- Amending Annex I - the GB law on amending Annex I (list of simplified active substances) (Reg (EU) 88/2014)
Note: any changes made to the above laws in the EU after 31 December 2020 do not apply in GB.
The following UK laws amend the above GB biocides laws so they work effectively in GB:
- the Chemicals (Health and Safety) and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (CMGO Regs 2019) - to address deficiencies in retained EU law relating to chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) legislation arising from the withdrawal of the UK from the EU
- the Chemicals (Health and Safety) and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (CMGO Regs 2020) - also implements the Northern Ireland protocol and outlines the transitional provisions for applications, approvals and authorisations in GB
- the Chemicals (Health and Safety) Trade and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2022- minor amendments to correct outstanding deficiencies relating to EU exit, for example to delete one mention of Union legislation, correct some cross references and refer to the GB mandatory classification and labelling list
- the Biocidal Products (Health and Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 - puts in place a temporary extension for a period of five years to the legal deadlines by which affected biocidal product authorisation applications are required to be processed by HSE. Where biocidal products were previously authorised under pre-existing national law, the instrument ensures they can continue to be placed on the market and used until they are authorised under GB BPR. The instrument also inserts a new transitional arrangement into GB BPR, Article 95FA
- the Biocidal Products (Health and Safety) (Amendment and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2024 - due to advances in testing since GB BPR came into force in 2012, the data requirements have been updated and amended. Applications received after 6 October 2025 are required to use the new data requirements
- the Biocidal Products (Data Protection Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 - amending the date set out in Article 95(5) of GB BPR on which regulatory data protection ends for active substance/product type combinations included in the GB Review Programme. This instrument also makes minor technical changes to ensure Article 95(5) works as intended and updates references to out of date legislation
The above laws also amend the following UK regulations so they work alongside GB biocides regulations:
- The Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 - sets out additional rules for the control of biocides in the UK, including those relating to enforcement of BPR
- The Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) Regulations 2022 - the law on the fees that can be charged for work under BPR