A new active substance approval expiry date has been published.
Following evaluation under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), a decision has been taken to renew creosote in GB with the following new expiry date:
31 March 2033
The renewed approval is for the treatment of wood for the following uses:
- railway sleepers
- transmission poles
- fencing (safety critical uses, namely those requiring compliance with BS8417 service factor D)
- surface treatment of wood for the above uses when modified at the point of installation
This decision applies from 1 April 2026.
You can find out more information about the renewal conditions in the evaluation, HSE opinion and decision document on the HSE website.
Check the impact on your products
If you supply biocidal products containing creosote in GB, you should check the renewal conditions to see how you may be impacted.
There are new conditions that you need to take account of when applying for product authorisation or renewal under GB BPR. You may even need to make a change to your existing authorisation or approval to comply with the renewal conditions.
Some conditions may mean we need to contact you about cancelling your product authorisation. In such cases, you will have an opportunity to submit comments or additional information and we will take account of these when finalising our decision.
Impact on wood treated with creosote – non-renewed uses
Creosote-treated timber must not be placed on the GB market on or after 1 April 2027 for use as:
- fencing (non-safety critical uses)
- tree stakes
- marine applications
- environmental barriers
- industrial landscape retaining timbers
- cladding for non-residential buildings
Creosote treated wood for the non-renewed uses that enters into the supply chain in GB before 1 April 2027 can continue to be supplied and used in GB after this date.
Impact on wood treated with creosote – renewed uses
From 1 April 2027, creosote-treated timber must only be placed on the GB market for use as; transmission poles, railway sleepers and safety critical fencing, and labelled as such.
From 1 October 2026 creosote treated wood should be labelled in accordance with Article 58 of GB BPR and Appendix 1 of the decision document (HSE 2026-002).
Find out more about treated articles.
Take action to remain on the GB Article 95 List
If you are a GB Article 95 supplier of creosote, you must submit all the data, or a letter of access to all the data, relevant for the renewal by 31 March 2027 to remain on the list.
Stakeholders should note that biocides are in scope of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement currently being negotiated between the UK and the EU. Once negotiations on the SPS Agreement have concluded, HSE will communicate further on any implications the Agreement has for the sector.
For any help with the details provided in this ebulletin please contact us via email.
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