Report on the sustainable use of biocides pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products

Summary:

Report published by the European Commission on 17 March 2016 on how the Biocidal Products Regulation (also known as the BPR) contributes to the sustainable use of biocidal products.

Further information:

Biocidal products, such as disinfectants, wood preservatives, insecticides, insect repellents or rodenticides, are a family of products intended to destroy or control harmful or unwanted organisms (such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects or vertebrate animals) that have detrimental effects on the environment, on animals, on humans, their activities or the products they use or produce. Biocidal products are used in a wide variety of ways by both industrial and professional users as well as by the general public.

Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 regulates the making available on the market and use of biocidal products. The BPR replaced Directive 98/8/EC (or BPD) and entered into application in September 2013. Article 18 of the BPR stipulates that the European Commission - on the basis of experience gained with the application of the BPR - present to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament a report on how the BPR contributes to the sustainable use of biocidal products. This report should also reflect on the need to introduce additional measures, in particular for professional users, in view of reducing the risks posed to human health, animal health and the environment by biocidal products.