Packaging and labelling requirements for biocidal products

The GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR) sets out the requirements for how biocidal products should be packaged and labelled once they are authorised.

Action for authorisation holders

If you are the authorisation holder for a biocidal product under GB BPR, you are responsible for ensuring it is packaged and labelled in accordance with GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (GB CLP) Regulation and the Summary of Biocidal Product Characteristics (SPC) which forms part of the GB BPR Certificate of Authorisation (CoA).

Unless expressly stated, phrases given in the SPC do not need to appear word-for-word as long as the meaning is the same.

Your label must not describe the biocidal product in any way which is misleading in relation to:

Phrases that are considered to be misleading and must not be used include:

Whenever your authorisation is changed or renewed, phase-out periods are granted to allow existing stocks of the product to be phased off the market. This allows any product already labelled according to the previous SPC to be supplied and used during the phase-out periods without needing to be re-labelled according to the new SPC.

Label elements

The following elements must be shown clearly and indelibly, in English, on the labels for your biocidal product, where applicable:

In some cases, it may be physically impossible to put all of this information on the label (due to the size or the function of the biocidal product). The information marked with an asterisk (*) may instead appear on an accompanying leaflet that is integral to the packaging.

Packaging

The packaging of a biocidal product must:

If there is a risk that your product may be mistaken for food, drink or feed, and it is available to the general public, it must contain a substance to discourage consumption such as a bittering agent.

Advice on packaging and labelling

When you apply for product authorisation under GB BPR, you will be required to submit details of the packaging and the draft label which will be considered as part of the assessment process.

Packaging will only be considered in terms of its chemical compatibility with the type of product and, if available to the general public, the appropriateness of any fastenings in relation to GB CLP.

Labels will only be considered in terms of whether they correctly and appropriately describe the product:

Labels will not be considered in terms of other aspects of the label, such as marketing or graphics, unless it impacts on the key information.

HSE does not approve, authorise or endorse labels under GB BPR.

Updated 2022-04-01