HSE Biocides ebulletin

Issued: 17 November 2023

This ebulletin contains information on regulating biocides in Northern Ireland (NI). 

The EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR) operates independently from the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), which applies in Great Britain.

Separate ebulletins containing information specific to regulating biocides in Great Britain are issued as appropriate.

Upcoming EU active substance expiry dates

Biocidal products must be phased off the NI market

The active substance/product type combinations listed below are due to expire under the EU BPR on the following dates. This affects NI:

• 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl methylcarbamate (Bendiocarb) (CAS 22781-23-3 EC 245-216-8) in product type 18
  31 January 2024
• Margosa extract from the kernels of Azadirachata Indica extracted with water and further processed with organic solvents (CAS 84696-25-3 EC 283-644-7) in product type 18
  30 April 2024
• Undecan-2-one (methyl nonyl ketone) (CAS 112-12-9 EC 203-937-5) in product type 19
  30 April 2024

Once the approvals expire, the active substances can no longer be used in biocidal products of the relevant product types in NI.

If you hold an affected EU BPR product authorisation or Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) product approval, we will contact you about cancelling or revoking your authorisation or approval. You will have an opportunity to submit comments or additional information and we will take account of these when finalising our decision.

If you are aware of any disproportionate negative impacts that are likely to arise from the expiry of any of the active substance/product type combinations listed above, please contact us.

Upcoming EU active substance renewal submission deadlines

Apply for active substance renewal by the deadlines to keep products on the NI market

Under the EU BPR, active substance approvals will expire unless a renewal application is submitted to ECHA at least 550 days before their expiry date.

The 550-day deadlines are coming up for the following active substance/product type combinations under EU BPR. This affects NI:

• 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl trans-2-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (Transfluthrin) (CAS 118712-89-3 EC 405-060-5) in product type 18
  29 April 2024
• 3-(N-acetyl-N-butyl)aminopropionic acid ethyl ester (Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate (IR3535)) (CAS 52304-36-6 EC 257-835-0) in product type 19
  29 April 2024
• Lauric acid (CAS 143-07-7 EC 205-582-1) in product type 19
  29 April 2024
• methyl (E)-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy]phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate (Azoxystrobin) (CAS 131860-33-8 EC 603-524-3) in product types 7, 9 and 10
  29 April 2024
• Synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide (nano) (CAS 112926-00-8 EC 231-545-4) in product type 18
  29 April 2024
• 3-phenoxybenzyl (1RS,3RS;1RS,3SR)-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (Permethrin) (CAS 52645-53-1 EC 258-067-9) in product types 8 and 18
  27 October 2024
• Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride with a mean number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 1415 and a mean polydispersity (PDI) of 4.7 (PHMB (1415;4.7)) (CAS 1802181-67-4 / 32289-58-0 EC n/a) in product types 2 and 4
  29 April 2025

Any person, company or task force/consortium can support an active substance/product type combination for renewal – it doesn’t have to be the original supporter.

Check the EU Article 95 List to see who the original supporters were

If any of these active substance/product type combinations are important to you, consider contacting your supplier to let them know.

If a renewal application is not submitted for the above active substance/product type combinations under EU BPR, the approvals will expire. This means the active substances can no longer be used in biocidal products of the relevant product types in NI.