HSE have published their latest bulletins:
REACH
Statement on the UK REACH Alternative Transitional Registration Model
The Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has released an update on the proposed Alternative Transitional Registration Model.
In December 2021 the Secretary of State for Defra committed to exploring an alternative model for the processing of transitional Registrations under UK REACH.
On 9 November 2023, Defra published a public statement outlining the government’s ambitions for and progress on the development of this new model. This statement also announces Defra’s intent to consult on a number of key areas related to the proposed new model in early 2024.
Biocides
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 (deadline: 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 (deadline: 30 April 2024)
- Undecan-2-one (methyl nonyl ketone) (CAS 112-12-9 EC 203-937-5) in product type 19 (deadline: 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 (deadline: 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 (deadline: 29 April 2024)
- Lauric acid (CAS 143-07-7 EC 205-582-1) in product type 19 (deadline: 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 (deadline: 29 April 2024)
- Synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide (nano) (CAS 112926-00-8 EC 231-545-4) in product type 18 (deadline: 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 (deadline: 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 (deadline: 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.
New EU active substance non-approval decision
Biocidal products must be phased off the NI market
Following evaluation under the EU BPR, a decision has been taken not to approve the following active substance/product type combination. This will affect NI:
- Silver copper zeolite (CAS 130328-19-7 EC 868-573-7) in product type 4
Biocidal products containing this active substance in the relevant product type can no longer be:
- supplied in NI after 23 October 2024; or
- used in NI after 23 April 2025
You must manage your stocks of the affected products to ensure they are removed from the NI supply chain by 23 October 2024.
New treated articles containing this active substance in the relevant product type cannot enter the supply chain or be imported into NI after 20 April 2024. Treated articles that have entered NI supply chains before this date can continue to be supplied and used.
Find out more about treated articles
Any affected NI product approvals under the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) will be revoked in line with the above dates. If you are aware of any disproportionate negative impacts that are likely to arise from the non-approval of the active substance/product type combination listed above, please contact us.
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:
- Methyl-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (Carbendazim) (CAS 10605-21-7 EC 234-232-0) in product types 07 and 10 (deadline: 31 January 2025)
- Thiamethoxam (CAS 153719-23-4 EC 428-650-4) in product type 18 (deadline: 31 January 2025)
- Powdered Corn Cob (CAS n/a EC n/a) in product type 14 (deadline: 31 January 2025)
Once the approvals expire, the active substances can no longer be used in biocidal products or treated articles of the relevant product types in Northern Ireland.
If you hold an affected EU BPR product authorisation or 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.
22 November:
Live online workshop: biocides disinfectants efficacy (22 and 23 January 2024)
This workshop will take place over 2 half-days and will develop an understanding of the regulatory approach to efficacy assessment of disinfectant products (Main Group 1) under the GB Biocidal Products Regulations (GB BPR).
It will provide a general overview of the efficacy requirements for this type of product alongside specific advice for the five product types in this group. The workshop will also address common issues related to labelling and efficacy testing for these product types.
The workshop will be delivered by HSE regulatory specialists and will help attendees improve the quality of their submissions and understand how these will be reviewed by the GB regulator.
The workshop is suitable for those involved in the creation and submission of efficacy data packages for disinfectant biocidal product applications, including test houses, applicants, consultants, etc. Although no prior experience is assumed, it will specifically explore efficacy of disinfectants and will not cover other product types or general principles of efficacy assessment.
Topics covered
- general considerations affecting the labelling, testing and assessment of efficacy for disinfectant products
- specific outlines of the standard testing needed for surface disinfectants in product types 2, 3 and 4
- specific outlines of the standard testing needed for product type 1
- advice for generating adapted or novel methods for less standard products in product types 2, 3 and 4
- advice in testing for product type 5, where limited standard methods are available
- common issues and problems faced in these product types
Registration
Find out more and register for this fee paid workshop. The closing date for registration is 15 January 2024.
