Biocides: Find the right enforcement authority

If your biocides concern relates to a company based in, or an incident that has occurred in, Northern Ireland please visit the HSE NI website.

If the incident / concern involves…	…it should be reported to…
people – where someone has carried out a biocidal treatment in your home as part of their work, for example, a professional pest controller	HSE - Reporting an incident or concern
people – where someone has carried out a biocidal treatment in your home not as part of their work, for example, yourself or another member of the general public	your local authority
people – other than the scenarios described above	either HSE - Reporting an incident or concern or your local authority depending on the type of place involved – see a full list of places and who has the enforcing responsibility
animals, including wildlife, livestock and pets / companion animals	Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme Telephone: 0800 321 600
the environment	Environment Agency in England Telephone: 0800 80 70 60 Natural Resources Wales in Wales Telephone: 0300 065 3000 Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland Telephone: 03000 99 66 99
rail networks	Office of Rail and Road
authorisation or approval concern that a product does not have the necessary authorisation or approval for example	HSE - Reporting an incident or concern
trade-to-trade sale wholesale supply	HSE - Reporting an incident or concern
retail sale, including online and in physical stores	your local Trading Standards office
advertisement online, newspapers / magazines etc	your local Trading Standards office

If you’re still not sure which authority you should report to, don’t worry! All of the authorities work together, so we will make sure your report gets to the right place.

Other ways the authorities work together include:

sharing information, for example HSE can provide other authorities with:

advice on the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR) and the Control of Pesticides Regulation (COPR), and on how individual products are affected by it
details of the approval / authorisation status of individual products and the conditions placed on them
copies of the approval / authorisation documents

supporting prosecutions, for example, by providing witness statements

Enforcement laws

The responsibilities of the different authorities described in the table above come from general health and safety law working in combination with more specific enforcement laws for COPR and GB BPR.

General health and safety law

GB BPR specific law

Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 (BPC Regs) – originally written in the context of the UK as part of the EU
Chemicals (Health and Safety) and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (CGMO Regs 2019) – amends the BPC Regs in the context of the UK no longer being part of the EU
Chemicals (Health and Safety) and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (CGMO Regs 2020) – amends the CGMO Regs 2019 in the context of the Northern Ireland Protocol and a GB only regime

COPR specific law

These laws also define a number of offences and the powers that the authorities may use. Find out more about offences and powers.

Schemes and activities

HSE also runs a number of schemes and activities focussed on the effects of the use of biocidal products in particular areas.

Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS)

The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) investigates the death and illness of wildlife, livestock, pets (usually cats and dogs) and beneficial invertebrates (usually honey bees, bumble bees and earthworms) that are suspected to be caused by poisoning from biocides (or pesticides).

WIIS is primarily a monitoring tool that provides additional information to HSE, which may prompt the reassessment of authorised products to prevent further incidents. However, enforcement action may also be taken where there is clear evidence of a breach of the law.

Find out more about WIIS.

Adverse effects reporting

Action for approval / authorisation holders

COPR and GB BPR require product approval and authorisation holders to report new information about products and active substances that may affect their approval or authorisation. You should report to HSE without delay if you become aware of:

any data or information concerning the adverse effects of an active substance or biocidal product on:

people – particularly vulnerable groups
animals
the environment

any data or information that might indicate an active substance is contributing to the development of resistance in pest populations
any data or information that might indicate a biocidal product is not sufficiently effective

You should include as much information as possible in your reports, including:

product name
COPR HSE number or GB BPR authorisation number
type of incident (approved use, accident or misuse)
who or what was affected (person, animal (including type and species) or the environment)
when, where and how the exposure happened
symptoms reported
treatment details
long-term effects
any advice issued

The information reported to HSE may prompt the reassessment of authorised products to prevent further incidents. However, enforcement action may also be taken where there is clear evidence of a breach of the law.

To ensure that HSE is receiving this information, we conduct an annual survey where approval / authorisation holders are required to tell us about any information they have received concerning the adverse effects described above.

Please note: this does not mean you should wait for us to write to you! If you have received information concerning adverse effects, you must tell us without delay.

The results of the survey are compiled into an anonymous report – approval / authorisation holders and products will not be identified. For the latest report, or reports from previous years, please contact us.