GB BPR
GB Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR) and How Water Treatment Products Complies
Overview
Following the end of the Transition Period, Great Britain is no longer part of the EU scheme for regulating biocides.
The EU biocides regulations have been copied into GB law and Biocidal products are controlled under the following effective 1st January 2021:
- Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR)
- Northern Ireland under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR)
As GB BPR is a stand-alone regime, the HSE have provided guidance for the following items:
ARTICLE 95 LIST
A Great Britain version of the EU list of active substance suppliers (the ‘Article 95’ list) has been established. The list mirrors the EU list (at the point the transition period ended) and will operate in the same way.
EXISTING AUTHORISATIONS
A biocidal product authorisation that is valid in Great Britain, will remain valid from 1 January 2021 until its normal expiry date. However, the authorisation holder will need to be established in the UK (including Northern Ireland) by 1 January 2022.
ACTIVE SUBSTANCES
Active substances that were already in the EU Review Programme on 31 December 2020 are intended to be included in the GB Review Programme. For the active substance to be evaluated under the GB Review Programme, a full application to HSE is to be submitted by the substance supplier within prescribed timescales.
The Aims of the GB BPR are as follows:
- To provide a high level of protection for humans, animals and the environment from the use of biocidal products through risk assessment. The active biocidal substances each require the submission and evaluation of data relating to the chemistry, toxicity and environmental fate.
- To ensure that biocidal products on the market are sufficiently effective against the target species.
Definition:
Biocidal products are defined as those active substances and preparations containing one or more active substances intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action or otherwise exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means.
The GB BPR covers 22 different product types under 4 main groups which includes disinfectants, preservatives, pest control and antifouling products. For example Liquid Cooling and processing systems are included in Product Type 11.
Latest News
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has granted Water Treatment Products approval under Biocide Products Regulations on Wednesday 3rd April 2019 for their product WTP C32. The HSE is the UK competent authority for Biocidal product authorisations and has given approval for PT 11 which covers use in Evaporative Cooling Towers and process waters including the important “Closed System use”.
C32 is one of the best selling non oxidising biocides; this BPR submission, which was costly and time consuming has allowed over 75 of WTPs own label customers, who signed up to the WTP product dossier in 2017, to continue selling the biocide with their unique product code to the approval date and beyond.
The approval is for 10 years. WTP has also obtained approval in Ireland from the Pesticide Control Division (PCD).
Read more here…
Useful Information:
HSE information on the Biocidal Products Regulations https://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/
British Association for Chemical Specialities – BACS: Do you sell or use biocides with your name on? If you do, are you aware of the consequences to your company of the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR)? Download PDF for further information here
