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HSE Biocides ebulletin

Issued: 24 October 2023

This ebulletin contains information on regulating biocides in Great Britain (GB). 

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

Separate ebulletins containing information specific to regulating biocides in Northern Ireland are issued as appropriate.

Upcoming GB active substance expiry dates

Biocidal products must be phased off the GB market

The active substance/product type combinations listed below are due to expire under the GB BPR on the following dates:

• 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
  
  
• 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea (Diflubenzuron) (CAS 35367-38-5 EC 252-529-3) in product type 18  
  31 January 2025
  
  
• Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0 EC 200-001-8) in product type 2  
  31 January 2025
  
  
• Powdered corn cob (CAS n/a EC n/a) in product type 14  
  31 January 2025
  
  
• Thiamethoxam (CAS 153719-23-4 EC 428-650-4) in product type 18  
  31 January 2025
  
  

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

If you hold an affected GB 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 GB active substance renewal submission deadlines

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

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

The 550-day deadlines are coming up for the following active substance/product type combinations under GB BPR:

• 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 GB 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 GB BPR, the approvals will expire. This means the active substances can no longer be used in biocidal products of the relevant product types in GB.