EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 320/1

POSITION (EU) No 11/2011 OF THE COUNCIL AT FIRST READING

with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products

Adopted by the Council on 21 June 2011

(Text with EEA relevance)

2011/C 320 E/01

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),

Whereas:

(1) Biocidal products are necessary for the control of organisms that are harmful to human or animal health and for the control of organisms that cause damage to natural or manufactured materials. However, biocidal products can pose risks to humans, animals and the environment due to their intrinsic properties and associated use patterns.

(2) Biocidal products should neither be made available on the market nor used unless authorised in accordance with this Regulation. Treated articles should not be placed on the market unless all active substances contained in the biocidal products with which they were treated or which they incorporate are approved in accordance with this Regulation.

(3) The purpose of this Regulation is to improve the free movement of biocidal products within the Union while ensuring a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment. Particular attention should be paid to the protection of vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children. This Regulation should be underpinned by the precautionary principle to ensure that the manufacturing and making available on the market of active substances and biocidal products do not result in harmful effects on human or animal health or unacceptable effects on the environment. With a view to removing, as far as possible, obstacles to trade in biocidal products, rules should be laid down for the approval of active substances and the making available on the market and use of biocidal products, including rules on the mutual recognition of authorisations and on parallel trade.

(4) To ensure a high level of protection for human and animal health and the environment, this Regulation should apply without prejudice to EU legislation on safety in the workplace and environmental and consumer protection.

(5) Rules concerning the making available on the market of biocidal products within the Community were established through Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 (3). It is necessary to adapt those rules in the light of experience and in particular the report on the first seven years of the implementation submitted by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, which analyses problems with and weaknesses of that Directive.

(6) Taking into account the main changes that should be made to the existing rules, a regulation is the appropriate legal instrument to replace Directive 98/8/EC to lay down clear, detailed and directly applicable rules. Moreover, a regulation ensures that legal requirements are implemented at the same time and in a harmonised manner throughout the Union.

(7) A distinction should be drawn between existing active substances which were on the market in biocidal products on the transposition date set in Directive 98/8/EC and new active substances which were not yet on the market in biocidal products on that date. During the ongoing review of existing active substances, Member States should continue to allow biocidal products containing such substances to be made available on the market according to their national rules until a decision is taken on approval of those active substances. Following such a decision Member States, or, where appropriate, the Commission, should grant, cancel or modify authorisations as appropriate. New active substances should be reviewed before biocidal products containing them are placed on the market, so as to ensure that new products that are placed on the market comply with the requirements of this Regulation. However, to encourage the development of new active substances, the evaluation procedure for new active substances should not prevent Member States or the Commission from authorising, for a limited period of time, biocidal products containing an active substance before it is approved, provided that a full dossier has been submitted and it is believed that the active substance and the biocidal product satisfy the conditions set out in this Regulation.

(8) To ensure the equal treatment of persons placing active substances on the market, they should be required to hold a dossier, or have a letter of access to a dossier, or to relevant data in a dossier, for each of the active substances they manufacture or import for use in biocidal products. Biocidal products containing active substances for which the relevant person does not comply with that obligation should no longer be made available on the market. In such cases, there should be appropriate phase-out periods for disposal and use of existing stocks of biocidal products.

(9) This Regulation should apply to biocidal products that, in the form in which they are supplied to the user, consist of, contain or generate one or more active substances. It therefore should not apply to devices within industrial plants that generate biocidal products in situ.

(10) In order to ensure legal certainty, it is necessary to establish a Union list of active substances approved for use in biocidal products. A procedure should be laid down for assessing whether or not an active substance can be entered in that list. The information that interested parties should submit in support of an application for approval of an active substance and its inclusion in the list should be specified.

(11) This Regulation applies without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and establishing a European Chemicals Agency (4). Under certain conditions, biocidal active substances are exempt from the relevant provisions of that Regulation.

(12) With a view to achieving a high level of protection of the environment and human and animal health, active substances with the worst hazard profiles should not be approved for use in biocidal products except in specific situations. These should include situations when approval is justified because of the negligible risk from exposure to the substance, public or animal health or environmental reasons or the disproportionate negative impact for society of non-approval. When deciding if such active substances may be approved, the availability of suitable and sufficient alternative substances or technologies should also be taken into account.

(13) The active substances in the Union list should be regularly examined to take account of developments in science and technology. Where there are serious indications that an active substance used in biocidal products or treated articles does not meet the requirements of this Regulation, the Commission should be able to review the approval of the active substance.

(14) Active substances should be designated as candidates for substitution if they have certain intrinsic hazardous properties. In order to allow for a regular examination of substances identified as candidates for substitution, the approval period for those substances should not, even in the case of renewal, exceed seven years.

(15) In the course of granting or renewing the authorisation of a biocidal product that contains an active substance that is a candidate for substitution, it should be possible to compare the biocidal product with other authorised biocidal products, non-chemical means of control and prevention methods with regard to risks they pose and benefits from their use. As a result of such a comparative assessment, a biocidal product containing active substances identified as candidates for substitution should be prohibited or restricted where it is demonstrated that other authorised biocidal products or non-chemical control or prevention methods that present a significantly lower overall risk for human and animal health and the environment, are sufficiently effective and present no other significant economic or practical disadvantages. Appropriate phase-out periods should be provided for in such cases.

(16) In order to avoid unnecessary administrative and financial burdens for the industry and competent authorities, a full in-depth evaluation of an application to renew the approval of an active substance or the authorisation of a biocidal product should be carried out only if the competent authority that was responsible for the initial evaluation decides that this is necessary on basis of the available information.

(17) There is a need to ensure effective coordination and management of the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of this Regulation at Union level. The European Chemicals Agency set up under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (‘the Agency’) should carry out specified tasks with regard to the evaluation of active substances as well as the Union authorisation of certain categories of biocidal products and related tasks. Consequently, a Biocidal Products Committee should be established within the Agency to carry out certain tasks conferred on the Agency by this Regulation.

(18) Certain biocidal products and treated articles as defined in the Regulation are also regulated by other Union legislation. It is therefore necessary to draw clear borderlines in order to ensure legal certainty. A list of product types covered by this Regulation with an indicative set of descriptions within each type should be set out in an Annex to this Regulation.

(19) Biocidal products intended to be used not only for the purposes of this Regulation, but also in connection with medical devices, such as disinfectants used to disinfect surfaces in hospitals and medical devices, may pose risks other than those with which this Regulation is concerned. Therefore, such biocidal products should comply, in addition to the requirements laid down in this Regulation, with the relevant essential requirements set out in Annex I to Council Directive 90/385/EEC of 20 June 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to active implantable medical devices (5), Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical devices (6) and Directive 98/79/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 1998 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (7).

(20) The safety of food and feed is subject to Union legislation, in particular Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (8). Therefore, the present Regulation should not apply to food and feed used for biocidal purposes.

(21) Processing aids are covered by existing Union legislation, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition (9) and Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives (10). Therefore, it is appropriate to exclude them from the scope of this Regulation.

(22) As products used for the preservation of food or feed by the control of harmful organisms, previously covered by product type 20, are covered by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 and Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, it is not appropriate to maintain that product type.

(23) As the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments provides for an effective assessment of the risks posed by ballast water management systems, the final approval and subsequent type approval of such systems should be considered equivalent to the product authorisation required under this Regulation.

(24) To avoid possible negative effects on the environment, biocidal products that can no longer lawfully be made available on the market should be dealt with in accordance with Union legislation on waste, in particular Directive 2008/98/EC, as well as national legislation implementing that legislation.

(25) To facilitate the making available on the market throughout the Union of certain biocidal products with similar conditions of use in all Member States, it is appropriate to provide for Union authorisation of those products. In order to allow some time for the Agency to build up the necessary capacity and to gain experience with this procedure, the possibility to apply for Union authorisation should be extended through a step-wise approach to further categories of biocidal products with similar conditions of use in all Member States.

(26) The Commission should review experience with the provisions on Union authorisations and report to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2017, accompanying its report with proposals for changes if appropriate.

(27) To ensure that only biocidal products that comply with the relevant provisions of this Regulation are made available on the market, biocidal products should be subject to authorisation either by competent authorities, for making available on the market and use within the territory of a Member State, or part of it, or by the Commission for making available on the market and use within the Union.

(28) To encourage the use of products with a more favourable environmental or human health profile, it is appropriate to provide for simplified authorisation procedures for such biocidal products. Once authorised in at least one Member State, those products should be allowed to be made available on the market in all Member States without the need for mutual recognition, under certain conditions.

(29) To identify biocidal products which are eligible for simplified authorisation procedures, it is appropriate to establish a specific list of the active substances that those products may contain. That list should, initially, contain substances identified as presenting a low risk under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 or Directive 98/8/EC, substances identified as food additives, pheromones and other substances considered to have low toxicity, such as weak acids, alcohols and vegetable oils used in cosmetics and food.

(30) It is necessary to provide common principles for the evaluation and authorisation of biocidal products to ensure a harmonised approach by competent authorities.

(31) To evaluate the risks that would arise from proposed uses of biocidal products, it is appropriate that applicants submit dossiers which contain the necessary information. Defining a data set for active substances and for biocidal products in which they are contained is necessary so as to assist both applicants seeking authorisation and competent authorities carrying out an evaluation to decide on authorisation.

(32) In the light of the diversity of both active substances and biocidal products not subject to the simplified authorisation procedure, the data and test requirements should suit the individual circumstances and allow an overall risk assessment. Therefore, an applicant should be able to request the adaptation of the data requirements, as appropriate, including the waiving of data requirements which are not necessary or are impossible to submit in view of the nature or the proposed uses of the product. Applicants should provide appropriate technical and scientific justification to support their requests.

(33) In order to help applicants, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to comply with the requirements of this Regulation, Member States should provide advice, for example by establishing helpdesks. This advice should be in addition to the operational guidance documents and other advice and assistance provided by the Agency.

(34) In particular, to ensure that applicants can effectively exercise the right to request the adaptation of data requirements, Member States should provide advice on this possibility and the grounds on which such requests could be made.

(35) To facilitate access to the market it should be possible to authorise a group of biocidal products as a biocidal product family. Biocidal products within a biocidal product family should have similar uses and the same active substances. Variations in the composition or the replacement of non-active substances should be specified, but may not adversely affect the level of risk or significantly reduce the efficacy of the products.

(36) When authorising biocidal products it is necessary to ensure that, when properly used for the purpose intended, they are sufficiently effective and have no unacceptable effect on the target organisms such as resistance, or, in the case of vertebrate animals, unnecessary suffering and pain. Furthermore, they may not have, in the light of current scientific and technical knowledge, any unacceptable effect on the environment or on human or animal health. Where appropriate, maximum residue limits for food and feed should be established with respect to active substances contained in a biocidal product to protect human and animal health. When these requirements are not met, biocidal products shall not be authorised unless their authorisation is justified because of the disproportionate negative impact for society of not authorising them when compared to the risks arising from their use.

(37) Where possible, the presence of harmful organisms should be avoided by means of suitable precautionary steps, such as proper warehousing of goods, compliance with relevant hygiene standards and immediate disposal of waste. As far as possible, biocidal products that pose lower risks for humans, animals and the environment should be used whenever they provide an effective remedy, and biocidal products that are intended to harm, kill or destroy animals that are capable of experiencing pain and distress should be used only as a last resort.

(38) Some authorised biocidal products may present certain risks if used by the general public. It is therefore appropriate to provide that certain biocidal products should not generally be authorised for making available on the market for use by the general public.

(39) To avoid duplication of the evaluation procedures and to ensure free movement of biocidal products within the Union, procedures should be established to ensure that product authorisations granted in one Member State are recognised in other Member States.

(40) To enable closer cooperation between Member States in the evaluation of biocidal products and to facilitate biocidal products' market access, it should be possible to launch the mutual recognition procedure when applying for the first national authorisation.

(41) It is appropriate to lay down procedures for the mutual recognition of national authorisations and, in particular, to resolve any disagreements without undue delay. If a competent authority refuses mutual recognition of an authorisation or proposes to restrict it, a co-ordination group should try to reach an agreement on the action to be taken. If the coordination group does not succeed in finding an agreement within a specified time, the Commission should be empowered to take a decision. In case of technical or scientific questions, the Commission may consult the Agency before preparing its decision.

(42) However, considerations related to public policy or public security, environmental and human and animal health protection, the protection of national treasures and the absence of the target organisms might justify, following agreement with the applicant, Member States' refusal to grant an authorisation or decision to adjust the terms and conditions of the authorisation to be granted. If no agreement with the applicant can be found, the Commission should be empowered to take a decision.

(43) The use of biocidal products of certain product-types might give rise to animal welfare concerns. Therefore, Member States should be allowed to derogate from the principle of mutual recognition for biocidal products falling under such product-types, in so far as such derogations are justified and do not jeopardise the purpose of this Regulation regarding an appropriate level of protection of the internal market.

(44) In order to facilitate the functioning of the authorisation and mutual recognition procedures, it is appropriate to establish a system for the mutual exchange of information. To accomplish this, a Register for Biocidal Products should be established. Member States, the Commission and the Agency should use this Register to make available to each other the particulars and scientific documentation submitted in connection with applications for authorisation of biocidal products.

(45) If the use of a biocidal product is in the interests of a Member State, but there is no applicant interested in making available on the market such a product in the Member State, official or scientific bodies should be able to apply for an authorisation. If they are granted an authorisation, they should have the same rights and obligations as any other authorisation holder.

(46) To take account of scientific and technical developments as well as the needs of authorisation holders, it is appropriate to specify under which conditions authorisations can be cancelled, reviewed or amended. The notification and exchange of information which may affect authorisations is also necessary to enable competent authorities and the Commission to take appropriate action.

(47) In the event of an unforeseen danger threatening public health or the environment which cannot be contained by other means, it should be possible for Member States to permit, for a limited period of time, the making available on the market of biocidal products which do not comply with the requirements of this Regulation.

(48) To encourage research and development in active substances and biocidal products, it is necessary to establish rules concerning the making available on the market and use of unauthorised biocidal products and non-approved active substances for the purposes of research and development.

(49) In view of the benefits for the internal market and for the consumer, it is desirable to establish harmonised rules for parallel trade in identical biocidal products authorised in different Member States.

(50) To determine, where necessary, the similarity of active substances, it is appropriate to lay down rules concerning technical equivalence.

(51) To protect human and animal health and the environment, and to avoid discrimination between treated articles originating in the Union and treated articles imported from third countries, all treated articles placed on the internal market should contain only approved active substances.

(52) To enable consumers to make informed choices, to facilitate enforcement and to provide an overview of their use, treated articles should be appropriately labelled.

(53) Applicants that have invested in supporting the approval of an active substance or the authorisation of a biocidal product in accordance with this Regulation or Directive 98/8/EC should be able to recover part of their investment by receiving equitable compensation whenever use of proprietary information which they submitted in support of such approval or authorisation is made for the benefit of subsequent applicants.

(54) With a view to ensuring that all proprietary information submitted in support of the approval of an active substance or the authorisation of a biocidal product is protected from the moment of its submission and to prevent situations where some information is without protection, the data protection periods should also apply to information submitted for the purposes of Directive 98/8/EC.

(55) To encourage the development of new active substances and biocidal products containing them, it is necessary to provide for a period of protection with respect to the proprietary information submitted in support of the approval of such active substances or the authorisation of biocidal products containing them which is longer than the period of protection for information concerning existing active substances and biocidal products containing them.

(56) It is essential to minimise the number of tests on animals and for testing with biocidal products, or active substances contained in biocidal products, to be carried out only when the purpose and use of a product so requires. Applicants should share, and not duplicate, vertebrate animal studies in exchange for equitable compensation. In the absence of an agreement on sharing of vertebrate animal studies between the data owner and the prospective applicant, the Agency should allow the use of the studies by the prospective applicant without prejudice to any decision on compensation made by national courts. Competent authorities and the Agency should have access to the contact details of the owners of such studies via a Union register so as to inform prospective applicants.

(57) The generation of information by alternative means not involving tests on animals which are equivalent to prescribed tests and test methods should also be encouraged. In addition, the adaptation of data requirements should be used to prevent unnecessary costs related to testing.

(58) To ensure that the requirements laid down with respect to the safety and quality of authorised biocidal products are satisfied when they are made available on the market, Member States should take measures for appropriate control and inspection arrangements and manufacturers should maintain a suitable and proportionate quality control system. To this end, it may be appropriate for Member States to take action together.

(59) Effective communication of information on risks resulting from biocidal products and risk management measures is an essential part of the system established by this Regulation. While facilitating access to information, competent authorities, the Agency and the Commission should respect the principle of confidentiality and avoid any disclosure of information which could be harmful to the commercial interests of the person concerned, except where it is necessary for the protection of human health, safety or the environment or for other reasons of overriding public interest.

(60) To increase the efficiency of monitoring and control, and to provide information relevant for addressing the risks of biocidal products, authorisation holders should keep records of the products they place on the market.

(61) It is necessary to specify that provisions concerning the Agency laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 should apply accordingly in the context of biocidal active substances and products. Where separate provisions need to be made with respect to the tasks and functioning of the Agency under this Regulation, they should be specified in this Regulation.

(62) The costs of the procedures associated with the operation of this Regulation need to be recovered from those making biocidal products available on the market and those seeking to do so in addition to those supporting the approval of active substances. To promote the smooth operation of the internal market, it is appropriate to establish certain common principles applicable both to fees payable to the Agency and to Member States' competent authorities, including the need to take into account, as appropriate, the specific needs of SMEs.

(63) It is necessary to provide for the possibility of an appeal against certain decisions of the Agency. The Board of Appeal set up within the Agency by Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 should also process appeals against decisions adopted by the Agency under this Regulation.

(64) There is scientific uncertainty about the safety of nanomaterials for human health and the environment. In order to ensure a high level of consumer protection, free movement of goods and legal certainty for manufacturers, it is necessary to develop a uniform definition for nanomaterials, if possible based on the work of appropriate international fora, and to specify that the approval of an active substance does not include the nanomaterial form unless explicitly mentioned. The Commission should regularly review the provisions on nanomaterials in the light of scientific progress.

(65) It is appropriate to provide for a deferred application of this Regulation so as to facilitate the smooth transition to the new systems for the approval of active substances and authorisation of biocidal products.

(66) The Agency should take over the coordination and facilitation tasks for new submissions for approval of active substances as of the date of applicability of this Regulation. However, in view of the high number of historical dossiers it is appropriate to allow some time for the Agency to prepare for the new tasks related to dossiers submitted under Directive 98/8/EC.

(67) To respect the legitimate expectations of companies with respect to the placing on the market and use of low-risk biocidal products covered by Directive 98/8/EC, those companies should be allowed to make such products available on the market if they comply with the rules on the registration of low-risk biocidal products under that Directive. However, this Regulation should apply after the expiry of the first registration.

(68) Taking into consideration that some products were not covered by Community legislation on biocidal products, it is appropriate to provide for transitional periods for active substances generated in situ and treated articles.

(69) This Regulation should take account, as appropriate, of other work programmes concerned with the review or authorisation of substances and products, or relevant international Conventions. In particular, it should contribute to the fulfilment of the Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management adopted on 6 February 2006 in Dubai.

(70) In order to supplement or amend this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of certain non-essential elements of this Regulation. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

(71) The Commission should adopt immediately applicable delegated acts where, in duly justified cases relating to the restriction of an active substance in Annex I or to the removal of an active substance from that Annex, imperative grounds of urgency so require.

(72) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (11).

(73) The Commission should adopt immediately applicable implementing acts where, in duly justified cases relating to the approval of an active substance or to the cancelling of an approval, imperative grounds of urgency so require.

(74) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely, to improve the functioning of the internal market for biocidal products, whilst ensuring a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, and can therefore, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

CHAPTER I

SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1

Purpose and subject matter

1. The purpose of this Regulation is to improve the functioning of the internal market through the harmonisation of the rules on the making available on the market and the use of biocidal products, whilst ensuring a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment. The provisions of this Regulation are underpinned by the precautionary principle, the aim of which is to safeguard the health of humans, animals and the environment.

2. This Regulation lays down rules for:

(a) the establishment at Union level of a list of active substances which may be used in biocidal products;

(b) the authorisation of biocidal products;

(c) the mutual recognition of authorisations within the Union;

(d) the making available on the market and the use of biocidal products within one or more Member States or the Union;

(e) the placing on the market of treated articles.

Article 2

Scope

1. This Regulation shall apply to biocidal products and treated articles. A list of the types of biocidal products covered by this Regulation and their descriptions is set out in Annex V.

2. Subject to any explicit provision to the contrary in this Regulation or other Union legislation, this Regulation shall not apply to biocidal products or treated articles that are within the scope of the following instruments:

(a) Council Directive 90/167/EEC of 26 March 1990 laying down the conditions governing the preparation, placing on the market and use of medicated feedingstuffs in the Community (12);

(b) Directive 90/385/EEC, Directive 93/42/EEC and Directive 98/79/EC;

(c) Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products (13), Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (14) and Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency (15);

(d) Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003;

(e) Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (16) and Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (17);

(f) Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008;

(g) Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods (18);

(h) Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the placing on the market and use of feed (19);

(i) Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (20);

(j) Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products (21).

Notwithstanding point (i), this Regulation shall apply to biocidal products that are intended to be used both as biocidal products and plant protection products.

3. Subject to any explicit provision to the contrary in this Regulation or other Union legislation, this Regulation shall be without prejudice to the following instruments:

(a) Council Directive 67/548/EEC 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (22);

(b) Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (23);

(c) Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (24);

(d) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (25);

(e) Directive 1999/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 1999 concerning the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (26);

(f) Directive 2000/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work (27);

(g) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (28);

(h) Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (29);

(i) Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants (30);

(j) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;

(k) Directive 2006/114/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 concerning misleading and comparative advertising (31);

(l) Regulation (EC) No 689/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 concerning the export and import of dangerous chemicals (32);

(m) Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (33);

(n) Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (34);

(o) Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (35);

(p) Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (36);

(q) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (37).

4. Article 68 shall not apply to the carriage of biocidal products by rail, road, inland waterway, sea or air.

5. This Regulation shall not apply to:

(a) food or feed used as biocidal products;

(b) processing aids that are used as biocidal products.

6. Where a manufacturer intends a biocidal product to be used for the purpose of exerting a controlling effect on any harmful organism present on medical devices and for other purposes covered by this Regulation, the relevant essential requirements set out in Annex I to Directives 90/385/EEC, 93/42/EEC or 98/79/EC shall also be fulfilled with regard to that biocidal product.

7. Biocidal products which obtained final approval under the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments shall be considered as authorised under Chapter VIII of this Regulation. Articles 46 and 67 shall apply accordingly.

8. Member States may allow for exemptions from this Regulation in specific cases for certain biocidal products, on their own or in a treated article, where necessary in the interests of defence.

9. The disposal of active substances and biocidal products shall be carried out in accordance with the Union and national waste legislation in force.

Article 3

Definitions

1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) ‘biocidal product’ means any substance, mixture or article, in the form in which it is supplied to the user, consisting of, containing or generating one or more active substances, with the primary intention of destroying, deterring, rendering harmless, preventing the action of, or otherwise exerting a controlling effect on, any harmful organism by any means other than mere physical or mechanical action;

(b) ‘micro-organism’ means any microbiological entity, cellular or non-cellular, capable of replication or of transferring genetic material, including lower fungi, viruses, bacteria, yeasts, moulds, algae, protozoa and microscopic parasitic helminths;

(c) ‘active substance’ means a substance or a micro-organism that has an action on or against harmful organisms;

(d) ‘existing active substance’ means a substance which was on the market on 14 May 2000 as an active substance of a biocidal product for purposes other than scientific or product and process-orientated research and development;

(e) ‘new active substance’ means a substance which was not on the market on 14 May 2000 as an active substance of a biocidal product for purposes other than scientific or product and process-orientated research and development;

(f) ‘substance of concern’ means any substance, other than the active substance, which has an inherent capacity to cause an adverse effect, immediately or in the more distant future, on humans, in particular vulnerable groups, animals or the environment and is present or is produced in a biocidal product in sufficient concentration to present risks of such an effect. Such a substance would, unless there are other grounds for concern, normally be: — a substance classified as dangerous according to Directive 67/548/EEC, and present in the biocidal product at a concentration leading the product to be regarded as dangerous within the meaning of Articles 5, 6 and 7 of Directive 1999/45/EC, or — a substance classified as hazardous according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and present in the biocidal product at a concentration leading the product to be regarded as hazardous within the meaning of that Regulation;

(g) ‘harmful organism’ means an organism, including pathogenic agents, which has an unwanted presence or a detrimental effect on humans, their activities or the products they use or produce, on animals or the environment;

(h) ‘residue’ means a substance present in or on products of plant or animal origin, water resources, drinking water, food, feed or elsewhere in the environment and resulting from the use of a biocidal product, including such a substance's metabolites, breakdown or reaction products;

(i) ‘making available on the market’ means any supply of a biocidal product or of a treated article for distribution or use in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge;

(j) ‘placing on the market’ means the first making available on the market of a biocidal product or of a treated article;

(k) ‘use’ means all operations carried out with a biocidal product, including storage, handling, mixing and application, except any such operation carried out with a view to exporting the biocidal product or the treated article outside the Union;

(l) ‘treated article’ means any substance, mixture or article which has been treated with, or intentionally incorporates, one or more biocidal products;

(m) ‘national authorisation’ means an administrative act by which the competent authority of a Member State authorises the making available on the market and the use of a biocidal product in its territory or in a part thereof;

(n) ‘Union authorisation’ means an administrative act by which the Commission authorises the making available on the market and the use of a biocidal product in the territory of the Union or in a part thereof;

(o) ‘authorisation’ means national authorisation, Union authorisation or authorisation in accordance with Article 25;

(p) ‘authorisation holder’ means the person responsible for the making available on the market of a biocidal product in a particular Member State or in the Union and specified in the authorisation. If the person responsible for the placing on the market of the biocidal product is not established within the Union, the authorisation holder shall be a person established within the Union that the person responsible for placing on the market has designated by written mandate as the authorisation holder and who has accepted that designation in writing;

(q) ‘product-type’ means one of the product-types specified in Annex V;

(r) ‘single biocidal product’ means a biocidal product with no intended variations as to the percentage of the active or non-active substances it contains;

(s) ‘biocidal product family’ means a group of biocidal products having similar uses, the active substances of which have the same specifications, and presenting specified variations in their composition which do not adversely affect the level of risk or significantly reduce the efficacy of the products;

(t) ‘letter of access’ means an original document, signed by the data owner or its representative, which states that the data may be used for the benefit of a third party by competent authorities, the Agency, or the Commission for the purposes of this Regulation;

(u) ‘food’ and ‘feed’ mean food as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and feed as defined in Article 3(4) of that Regulation;

(v) ‘food contact materials’ means any material or article as referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (38);

(w) ‘processing aid’ means any substance falling within the definition of point (b) of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 or point (h) of Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003;

(x) ‘technical equivalence’ means similarity, as regards the chemical composition and hazard profile, of a substance produced either from a source different to the reference source, or from the reference source but following a change to the manufacturing process and/or manufacturing location, compared to the substance of the reference source in respect of which the initial risk assessment was carried out, as established in Article 53;

(y) ‘Agency’ means the European Chemicals Agency established by Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;

(z) ‘advertisement’ means a means of promoting the sale or use of biocidal products by printed, electronic or other media;

(aa) ‘nanomaterial’ means nanomaterial as defined in Commission Recommendation 20../…/EC of … … … concerning the definition of nanomaterials;

(ab) ‘administrative change’ means an amendment of an existing authorisation of a purely administrative nature involving no change to the properties or efficacy of the biocidal product or biocidal product family;

(ac) ‘minor change’ means an amendment of an existing authorisation that is not of a purely administrative nature and requires only a limited re-assessment of the properties or efficacy of the biocidal product or biocidal product family;

(ad) ‘major change’ means an amendment of an existing authorisation which is neither an administrative change nor a minor change;

(ae) ‘vulnerable groups’ means persons needing specific consideration when assessing the acute and chronic health effects of biocidal products. These include pregnant and nursing women, the unborn, infants and children, the elderly and, when subject to high exposure to biocidal products over the long term, workers and residents;

(af) ‘small and medium-sized enterprises’ or ‘SMEs’ means small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (39).

2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions laid down in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 shall apply for the following terms:

(a) ‘substance’;

(b) ‘mixture’;

(c) ‘article’;

(d) ‘product and process-orientated research and development’;

(e) ‘scientific research and development’.

3. The Commission may, at the request of a Member State, decide, by means of implementing acts, whether a specific product or group of products is a biocidal product or a treated article or neither. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3).

CHAPTER II

APPROVAL OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Article 4

Conditions for approval

1. An active substance shall be approved for an initial period not exceeding 10 years if at least one biocidal product containing that active substance may be expected to meet the criteria laid down in point (b) of Article 18(1) taking into account the factors set out in Article 18(2) and (5).

2. The approval of an active substance shall be restricted to those product-types for which relevant data have been submitted in accordance with Article 6.

3. The approval shall specify the following conditions, as appropriate:

(a) the minimum degree of purity of the active substance;

(b) the nature and maximum content of certain impurities;

(c) the product-type;

(d) manner and area of use including, where relevant, use in treated articles;

(e) designation of categories of users;

(f) where relevant, characterisation of the chemical identity with regard to stereoisomers;

(g) other particular conditions based on the evaluation of the information related to that active substance.

4. The approval of an active substance shall not cover nanomaterials except where explicitly mentioned.

Article 5

Exclusion criteria

1. Subject to paragraph 2, the following active substances shall not be approved:

(a) active substances which have been classified in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as, or which meet the criteria to be classified as, carcinogen category 1A or 1B;

(b) active substances which have been classified in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as, or which meet the criteria to be classified as, mutagen category 1A or 1B;

(c) active substances which have been classified in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as, or which meet the criteria to be classified as, toxic for reproduction category 1A or 1B;

(d) active substances identified in accordance with Articles 57(f) and 59(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 as having endocrine disrupting properties;

(e) active substances which fulfil the criteria for being persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bio-accumulative (vPvB) according to Annex XIII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

2. Without prejudice to Article 4(1), active substances referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may be approved if it is shown that at least one of the following conditions is met:

(a) the risk to humans or the environment from exposure to the active substance in a biocidal product, under realistic worst case conditions of use, is negligible, in particular where the product is used in closed systems or strictly controlled conditions;

(b) the active substance is essential to prevent or to control a serious danger to public or animal health or the environment; or

(c) not approving the active substance would cause disproportionate negative impacts for society when compared with the risk to human health or the environment arising from the use of the substance.

When deciding whether an active substance may be approved in accordance with the first subparagraph, the availability of suitable and sufficient alternative substances or technologies shall also be taken into account.

3. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 82 specifying scientific criteria for the determination of endocrine disrupting properties.

Pending the adoption of those criteria, active substances that are classified in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as, or meet the criteria to be classified as, carcinogen category 2 and toxic for reproduction category 2, shall be considered as having endocrine-disrupting properties.

Substances such as those that are classified in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as, or that meet the criteria to be classified as, toxic for reproduction category 2 and that have toxic effects on the endocrine organs, may be considered as having endocrine-disrupting properties.

Article 6

Data requirements for an application

1. An application for approval of an active substance shall contain at least the following elements:

(a) a dossier for the active substance satisfying the requirements set out in Annex II;

(b) a dossier satisfying the requirements set out in Annex III for at least one representative biocidal product that contains the active substance; and

(c) if the active substance meets at least one of the exclusion criteria listed in Article 5(1), evidence that Article 5(2) is applicable.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the applicant need not provide data as part of the dossiers required under points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 where any of the following applies:

(a) the data are not necessary owing to the exposure associated with the proposed uses;

(b) it is not scientifically necessary to supply the data; or

(c) it is not technically possible to generate the data.

However, sufficient data shall be provided in order to make it possible to determine whether an active substance meets the criteria referred to in Article 5(1) or 10(1), if required by the evaluating competent authority under Article 8(2).

3. An applicant may propose to adapt the data as part of the dossiers required under points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 in accordance with Annex IV. The justification for the proposed adaptations to the data requirements shall be clearly stated in the application with a reference to the specific rules in Annex IV.

4. In order to establish uniform conditions for the application of point (a) of paragraph 2, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, specify in which circumstances the exposure associated with the proposed uses would justify adapting the data requirements of points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3).

Article 7

Submission and validation of applications

1. The applicant shall submit an application for approval of an active substance, or for making subsequent amendments to the conditions of approval of an active substance, to the Agency, informing it of the name of the competent authority of the Member State that it proposes should evaluate the application and providing written confirmation that that competent authority agrees to do so. That competent authority shall be the evaluating competent authority.

2. The Agency shall, after checking that the application has been submitted in the correct format, notify the evaluating competent authority without delay that the application is available via the Register for Biocidal Products.

The Agency shall inform the applicant of the fees payable under Article 79(1) and shall reject the application if the applicant fails to pay the fees within 30 days. It shall inform the applicant and the evaluating competent authority accordingly.

Upon receipt of the fees payable under Article 79(1), the Agency shall accept the application and inform the applicant and the evaluating competent authority accordingly, indicating the exact date of the acceptance of the application and its unique identification code.

3. Within 30 days of the Agency accepting an application, the evaluating competent authority shall validate the application if the data required in accordance with points (a) and (b) and, where relevant, point (c) of Article 6(1), and any justifications for the adaptation of data requirements, have been submitted.

In the context of the validation referred to in the first subparagraph, the evaluating competent authority shall not make an assessment of the quality or the adequacy of the data or justifications submitted.

4. Where the evaluating competent authority considers that the application is incomplete, it shall inform the applicant as to what additional information is required for the validation of the application and shall set a reasonable time limit for the submission of that information. That time limit shall not normally exceed 90 days.

The evaluating competent authority shall, within 30 days of receipt of the additional information, validate the application if it determines that the additional information submitted is sufficient to comply with the requirement laid down in paragraph 3.

The evaluating competent authority shall reject the application if the applicant fails to submit the requested information within the deadline and shall inform the applicant and the Agency accordingly. In such cases, part of the fee paid in accordance with Article 79 shall be reimbursed.

5. On validating an application in accordance with paragraph 3 or 4, the evaluating competent authority shall without delay inform the applicant, the Agency and other competent authorities accordingly and indicate the exact date of the validation.

6. An appeal may be brought, in accordance with Article 76, against decisions of the Agency under paragraph 2 of this Article.

Article 8

Evaluation of applications

1. The evaluating competent authority shall, within 365 days of the validation of an application, evaluate it in accordance with Articles 4 and 5, including, where relevant, any proposal to adapt data requirements submitted in accordance with Article 6(3), and send an assessment report and the conclusions of its evaluation to the Agency.

Prior to submitting its conclusions to the Agency, the evaluating competent authority shall give the applicant the opportunity to provide written comments on the assessment report and on the conclusions of the evaluation within 30 days. The evaluating competent authority shall take due account of those comments when finalising its evaluation.

2. Where it appears that additional information is necessary to carry out the evaluation, the evaluating competent authority shall ask the applicant to submit such information within a specified time limit, and shall inform the Agency accordingly. As specified in the second subparagraph of Article 6(2), the evaluating competent authority may, as appropriate, require the applicant to provide sufficient data to permit a determination of whether an active substance meets the criteria referred to in Article 5(1) or 10(1). The 365-day period referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be suspended from the date of issue of the request until the date the information is received. The suspension shall not exceed 180 days in total unless it is justified by the nature of the data requested or by exceptional circumstances.

3. Where the evaluating competent authority considers that there are concerns with regard to the cumulative effects from the use of biocidal products containing the same active substance, it shall document its concerns in accordance with the requirements of the relevant parts of Section II.3 of Annex XV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and include this as part of its conclusions.

4. Within 270 days of receipt of the conclusions of the evaluation, the Agency shall prepare and submit to the Commission an opinion on the approval of the active substance having regard to the conclusions of the evaluating competent authority.

Article 9

Approval of an active substance

1. The Commission shall, on receipt of the opinion of the Agency referred to in Article 8(4), either:

(a) adopt an implementing Regulation providing that an active substance is approved, and under which conditions, including the dates of approval and of expiry of the approval; or

(b) in cases where the requirements of Article 4(1) or, where applicable, Article 5(2), are not satisfied or where the requisite information and data have not been submitted within the prescribed period, adopt an implementing decision that an active substance is not approved.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3).

2. Approved active substances shall be included in a Union list of authorised active substances. The Commission shall keep the list up to date and make it electronically available to the public.

Article 10

Active substances which are candidates for substitution

1. An active substance shall be considered a candidate for substitution if any of the following conditions are met:

(a) it meets at least one of the exclusion criteria listed in Article 5(1) but may be approved in accordance with Article 5(2);

(b) its acceptable daily intake, acute reference dose or acceptable operator exposure level, as appropriate, is significantly lower than those of the majority of approved active substances for the same product-type and use scenario;

(c) it meets two of the criteria to be considered as a persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic substance as set out in Annex XIII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;

(d) there are reasons for concern linked to the nature of the critical effects which, in combination with the use patterns, amount to use that could still cause concern, such as high potential of risk to groundwater, even with very restrictive risk management measures;

(e) it contains a significant proportion of non-active isomers or impurities.

2. When preparing its opinion on the approval or renewal of the approval of an active substance, the Agency shall examine whether the active substance fulfils any of the criteria listed in paragraph 1 and address the matter in its opinion.

3. Prior to submitting its opinion on the approval or renewal of the approval of an active substance to the Commission, the Agency shall make publicly available, without prejudice to Articles 65 and 66, information on potential candidates for substitution during a period of no more than 60 days, during which time interested third parties may submit relevant information, including information on available substitutes. The Agency shall take due account of the information received when finalising its opinion.

4. By way of derogation from Articles 4(1) and 12(3), the approval of an active substance that is considered as a candidate for substitution and each renewal shall be for a period not exceeding seven years.

5. Active substances that are considered as candidates for substitution in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be identified as such in the relevant Regulation adopted in accordance with Article 9.

Article 11

Technical guidance notes

The Commission shall draw up technical guidance notes to facilitate the implementation of this Chapter, in particular Articles 5(2) and 10(1).

CHAPTER III

RENEWAL AND REVIEW OF APPROVAL OF AN ACTIVE SUBSTANCE

Article 12

Conditions for renewal

1. The Commission shall renew the approval of an active substance if the active substance still meets the condition laid down in Article 4(1) and, where relevant, the conditions set out in Article 5(2).

2. In the light of scientific and technical progress, the conditions specified for the active substance referred to in Article 4(3) shall be reviewed and, where appropriate, amended.

3. Unless otherwise specified in the decision to renew the approval of an active substance, the renewal shall be for fifteen years for all product-types to which the approval applies.

Article 13

Submission and acceptance of applications

1. Applicants wishing to seek renewal of the approval of an active substance for one or more product-types shall submit an application to the Agency at least 550 days before the expiry of the approval. Where there are different expiry dates for different product-types, the application shall be submitted at least 550 days before the earliest expiry date.

2. When applying for the renewal of the approval of the active substance, the applicant shall submit:

(a) a list of all relevant data that it has generated since the initial approval or, as appropriate, since the previous renewal; and

(b) its assessment of whether the conclusions of the initial or previous assessment of the active substance remain valid and any supporting information.

3. The applicant shall also submit the name of the competent authority of the Member State that it proposes should evaluate the application for renewal and provide written confirmation that that competent authority agrees to do so. That competent authority shall be the evaluating competent authority.

The Agency shall, after checking that it has been submitted in the correct format, notify the evaluating competent authority without delay that the application is available via the Register for Biocidal Products.

The Agency shall inform the applicant of the fees payable under Article 79(1) and shall reject the application if the applicant fails to pay the fees within 30 days. It shall inform the applicant and the evaluating competent authority accordingly.

Upon receipt of the fees payable under Article 79(1), the Agency shall accept the application and inform the applicant and the evaluating competent authority accordingly, indicating the exact date of the acceptance.

4. An appeal may be brought, in accordance with Article 76, against decisions of the Agency under paragraph 3 of this Article.

Article 14

Evaluation of applications for renewal

1. On the basis of an assessment of the available information and the need to review the conclusions of the initial evaluation of the application for approval or, as appropriate, the previous renewal, the evaluating competent authority shall, within 90 days of the Agency accepting an application in accordance with Article 13(3), decide whether, in the light of current scientific knowledge, a full evaluation of the application for renewal is necessary taking account of all product-types for which renewal is requested.

The evaluating competent authority may at any time require the applicant to submit the data referred to in Article 13(2)(a).

2. Where the evaluating competent authority decides that a full evaluation of the application is necessary, the evaluation shall be carried out in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 8.

Where the evaluating competent authority decides that a full evaluation of the application is not necessary, it shall, within 180 days of the Agency accepting the application in accordance with Article 13(3), prepare and submit to the Agency a recommendation on the renewal of the approval of the active substance. It shall provide the applicant with a copy of its recommendation.

3. Within 270 days of receipt of a recommendation from the evaluating competent authority, if it has carried out a full evaluation of the application, or 90 days otherwise, the Agency shall prepare and submit to the Commission an opinion on renewal of the approval of the active substance.

4. The Commission shall, on receipt of the opinion of the Agency, adopt:

(a) an implementing Regulation providing that the approval of an active substance is renewed for one or more product-types, and under which conditions; or

(b) an implementing decision that the approval of an active substance is not renewed.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3).

Article 9(2) shall apply.

5. Where, for reasons beyond the control of the applicant, the approval of the active substance is likely to expire before a decision has been taken on its renewal, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt a decision postponing the expiry date of approval for a period sufficient to enable it to examine the application. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 81(2).

6. Where the Commission decides not to renew the approval of an active substance for one or more product-types it may grant a period of grace for the disposal, making available on the market and use of existing stocks of biocidal products of the product-type(s) concerned containing that active substance.

The period of grace shall not exceed 180 days for making available on the market and an additional maximum of 180 days for disposal and use of existing stocks of biocidal products of the product-type(s) concerned containing that active substance.

Article 15

Review of approval of an active substance

1. The Commission may review the approval of an active substance for one or more product-types at any time where there are serious indications that the conditions laid down in Article 4(1) or, where relevant, Article 5(2) are no longer met. The Commission may also review the approval of an active substance for one or more product-types at the request of a Member State if there are indications that the use of the active substance in biocidal products or treated articles raises serious concerns about the safety of such biocidal products or treated articles.

Where those indications are confirmed the Commission shall adopt an implementing Regulation amending the conditions of approval of an active substance or cancelling its approval. That implementing Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3). Article 9(2) shall apply. The Commission shall inform the initial applicant(s) for the approval accordingly.

On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 81(4).

2. The Commission may consult the Agency on any questions of a scientific or technical nature related to the review of approval of an active substance. The Agency shall, within 270 days of the request, prepare an opinion and submit it to the Commission.

3. Where the Commission cancels the approval of an active substance, it may grant a period of grace for the disposal, making available on the market and use of existing stocks of biocidal products containing that active substance.

The period of grace shall not exceed 180 days for making available on the market and an additional maximum of 180 days for disposal and use of existing stocks of biocidal products containing that active substance.

Article 16

Implementing measures

The Commission may adopt, by means of implementing acts, detailed measures for the implementation of Articles 12 to 15, further specifying the procedures for the renewal and review of the approval of an active substance. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3).

CHAPTER IV

GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE AUTHORISATION OF BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS

Article 17

Making available on the marketand use of biocidal products

1. Biocidal products shall not be made available on the market or used unless authorised in accordance with this Regulation.

2. Applications for authorisation shall be made by, or on behalf of, the prospective authorisation holder.

Applications for national authorisation in a Member State shall be submitted to the competent authority of that Member State (‘the receiving competent authority’).

Applications for Union authorisation shall be submitted to the Agency.

3. An authorisation for a biocidal product may be granted for a single biocidal product or a biocidal product family.

4. An authorisation shall be granted for a maximum period of 10 years.

5. Biocidal products shall be used in compliance with the terms and conditions of the authorisation stipulated in accordance with Article 21(1) and the labelling and packaging requirements laid down in Article 68.

Proper use shall involve the rational application of a combination of physical, biological, chemical or other measures as appropriate, whereby the use of biocidal products is limited to the minimum necessary and appropriate precautionary steps are taken.

Member States shall take necessary measures to provide the public with appropriate information about the benefits and risks associated with biocidal products and ways of minimising their use.

6. The authorisation holder shall notify each competent authority that has granted a national authorisation for a biocidal product family of each product within the biocidal product family before placing it on the market, except where a particular product is explicitly identified in the authorisation or the variation in composition concerns only pigments, perfumes and dyes within the permitted variations. The notification shall indicate the exact composition, trade name and suffix to the authorisation number. In the case of a Union authorisation, the authorisation holder shall notify the Agency and the Commission.

Article 18

Conditions for granting an authorisation

1. A biocidal product other than those eligible for the simplified authorisation procedure in accordance with Article 24 shall be authorised provided the following conditions are met:

(a) the active substances are approved for the relevant product-type and any conditions specified for those active substances are met;

(b) it is established, according to the common principles for the evaluation of dossiers for biocidal products laid down in Annex VI, that the biocidal product, when used as authorised and having regard to the factors referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, fulfils the following criteria: (i) the biocidal product is sufficiently effective; (ii) the biocidal product has no unacceptable effects on the target organisms, in particular unacceptable resistance or cross-resistance or unnecessary suffering and pain for vertebrates; (iii) the biocidal product has no immediate or delayed unacceptable effects itself, or as a result of its residues, on human or animal health, including that of vulnerable groups directly or through drinking water, food, feed, air, or through other indirect effects; (iv) the biocidal product has no unacceptable effects itself, or as a result of its residues, on the environment, having particular regard to the following considerations: — the fate and distribution of the biocidal product in the environment; — contamination of surface waters (including estuarial and seawater), groundwater and drinking water, air and soil, taking into account locations distant from its use following long-range environmental transportation; — the impact of the biocidal product on non-target organisms; — the impact of the biocidal product on biodiversity and the ecosystem;

(c) the chemical identity, quantity and technical equivalence of active substances in the biocidal product and, where appropriate, any toxicologically or ecotoxicologically significant and relevant impurities and non-active substances, and its residues of toxicological or environmental significance, which result from uses to be authorised, can be determined according to the relevant requirements in Annexes II and III;

(d) the physical and chemical properties of the biocidal product have been determined and deemed acceptable for the purposes of the appropriate use and transport of the product;

(e) where appropriate, maximum residue limits for food and feed have been established with respect to active substances contained in a biocidal product in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food (40), Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin (41), Regulation (EC) No 470/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 laying down Community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin (42) and Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed (43).

2. The evaluation of whether a biocidal product fulfils the criteria set out in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall take into account the following factors:

(a) realistic worst case conditions under which the biocidal product may be used;

(b) the way in which treated articles treated with the biocidal product or containing the biocidal product may be used;

(c) the consequences of use and disposal of the biocidal product;

(d) cumulative and synergistic effects.

3. A biocidal product shall only be authorised for uses for which relevant information has been submitted in accordance with Article 19.

4. A biocidal product shall not be authorised for making available on the market for use by the general public where:

(a) it fulfils the criteria according to Directive 1999/45/EC for classification as: — toxic or very toxic; — a category 1 or 2 carcinogen; — a category 1 or 2 mutagen; or — toxic for reproduction category 1 or 2;

(b) it fulfils the criteria according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 for classification as: — acute oral toxicity category 1 or 2 or 3; — acute dermal toxicity category 1 or 2 or 3; — acute inhalation toxicity (gases and dust/mist) category 1 or 2 or 3; — acute inhalation toxicity (vapours) category 1 or 2; — a category 1A or 1B carcinogen; — a category 1A or 1B mutagen; or — toxic for reproduction category 1A or 1B;

(c) it fulfils the criteria for being PBT or vPvB in accordance with Annex XIII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;

(d) it has endocrine-disrupting properties; or

(e) it has developmental neurotoxic or immunotoxic effects.

5. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 4, a biocidal product may be authorised when the conditions laid down in paragraph 1(b)(iii) and (iv) are not fully met, or may be authorised for making available on the market for use by the general public when the criteria referred to in paragraph 4(c) are met, where not authorising the biocidal product would result in disproportionate negative impacts for society when compared to the risks to human or animal health or to the environment arising from the use of the biocidal product under the conditions laid down in the authorisation.

6. In the case of a biocidal product family, a reduction in the percentage of one or more active substances may be allowed, and/or a variation in percentage of one or more non-active substances, and/or the replacement of one or more non-active substances by other specified substances presenting the same or lower risk. The classification, hazard and precautionary statements for each product within the biocidal product family shall be the same (with the exception of a biocidal product family comprising a concentrate for professional use and ready-for-use products obtained through dilution of that concentrate).

A biocidal product family shall be authorised only if all the biocidal products within it, taking into account the permitted variations referred to in the first subparagraph, are expected to comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 1.

7. Where appropriate, the prospective authorisation holder or its representative shall apply for the establishment of maximum residue limits with respect to active substances contained in a biocidal product in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 315/93, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Regulation (EC) No 470/2009 and Directive 2002/32/EC.

8. Where a biocidal product is intended for direct application to the external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips and external genital organs), or to the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, it shall not contain any non-active substance that may not be included in a cosmetic product pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

Article 19

Requirements for applications for authorisation

1. The applicant for an authorisation shall submit the following documents together with the application:

(a) for biocidal products other than biocidal products meeting the conditions laid down in Article 24: (i) a dossier or letter of access for the biocidal product satisfying the requirements set out in Annex III; (ii) a summary of the characteristics of the biocidal product including the information referred to in points (a), (b) and (e) to (m) of Article 21(2), as applicable; (iii) a dossier or a letter of access for the biocidal product satisfying the requirements set out in Annex II for each active substance in the biocidal product;

(b) for biocidal products that the applicant considers meet the conditions laid down in Article 24: (i) a summary of the characteristics of the biocidal product as referred to in point (a)(ii) of this paragraph; (ii) efficacy data; and (iii) any other relevant information in support of the conclusion that the biocidal product meets the conditions laid down in Article 24.

2. The receiving competent authority may require that applications for national authorisation be submitted in one or more of the official languages of the Member State where that competent authority is situated.

3. If the application concerns a biocidal product that is intended by its manufacturer to be used also for the purposes referred to in Article 2(6), it shall be accompanied by a declaration of conformity regarding compliance with the relevant essential requirements of Directives 90/385/EEC, 93/42/EEC or 98/79/EC.

Article 20

Waiving of data requirements

1. By way of derogation from Article 19, the applicant need not provide data required under that Article where any of the following applies:

(a) the data are not necessary owing to the exposure associated with the proposed uses;

(b) it is not scientifically necessary to supply the data; or

(c) it is not technically possible to generate the data.

2. The applicant may propose to adapt the data requirements of Article 19 in accordance with Annex IV. The justification for the proposed adaptations to the data requirements shall be clearly stated in the application with reference to the specific rules in Annex IV.

3. In order to ensure the harmonised application of paragraph 1(a) of this Article, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 82 specifying criteria for defining when the exposure associated with the proposed uses would justify adapting the data requirements of Article 19.

Article 21

Content of authorisation

1. An authorisation shall stipulate the terms and conditions relating to the making available on the market and use of the single biocidal product or the biocidal product family and include a summary of the biocidal product characteristics.

2. Without prejudice to Articles 65 and 66, the summary of the biocidal product characteristics for a single biocidal product or, in the case of a biocidal product family, the biocidal products within that biocidal product family, shall include the following information:

(a) trade name of the biocidal product;

(b) name and address of the authorisation holder;

(c) date of the authorisation and its date of expiry;

(d) authorisation number of the biocidal product, together with, in the case of a biocidal product family, the suffixes to apply to individual biocidal products within the biocidal product family;

(e) qualitative and quantitative composition in terms of the active substances and non-active substances, knowledge of which is essential for proper use of biocidal products; and in the case of a biocidal product family, the quantitative composition shall indicate a minimum and maximum percentage for each active and non-active substance, where the minimum percentage indicated for certain substances may be 0 %;

(f) manufacturers of the biocidal product (names and addresses including location of manufacturing sites);

(g) manufacturers of the active substances (names and addresses including location of manufacturing sites);

(h) type of formulation of the biocidal product;

(i) hazard and precautionary statements;

(j) product-type and, where relevant, an exact description of the authorised use;

(k) target harmful organisms;

(l) application doses and instructions for use;

(m) categories of users;

(n) particulars of likely direct or indirect adverse effects and first aid instructions and emergency measures to protect the environment;

(o) instructions for safe disposal of the product and its packaging;

(p) conditions of storage and shelf-life of the biocidal product under normal conditions of storage;

(q) in the case of a biocidal product that is intended by its manufacturer to be used also for the purposes referred to in Article 2(6), any specific use conditions and a statement that the biocidal product is in conformity with the relevant essential requirements of Directives 90/385/EEC, 93/42/EEC or 98/79/EC;

(r) where relevant, other information about the biocidal product.

Article 22

Comparative assessment of biocidal products

1. The receiving competent authority or, in the case of an evaluation of an application for a Union authorisation, the evaluating competent authority, shall perform a comparative assessment as part of the evaluation of an application for authorisation or for renewal of authorisation of a biocidal product containing an active substance that is a candidate for substitution in accordance with Article 10(1).

2. The results of the comparative assessment shall be forwarded, without delay, to the competent authorities of other Member States and the Agency and, in the case of evaluation of an application for a Union authorisation, also to the Commission.

3. The receiving competent authority or, in the case of a decision on an application for a Union authorisation, the Commission shall prohibit or restrict the making available on the market or the use of a biocidal product containing an active substance that is a candidate for substitution where the comparative assessment in accordance with Annex VI (‘comparative assessment’) demonstrates that both of the following criteria are met:

(a) for the uses specified in the application, another authorised biocidal product or a non-chemical control or prevention method already exists which presents a significantly lower overall risk for human and animal health and the environment, is sufficiently effective and presents no other significant economic or practical disadvantages;

(b) the chemical diversity of the active substances is adequate to minimise the occurrence of resistance in the target harmful organism.

4. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a biocidal product containing an active substance that is a candidate for substitution may be authorised for a period of up to four years without comparative assessment in exceptional cases where it is necessary to acquire experience first through using that product in practice.

5. Where the comparative assessment involves a question which, by reason of its scale or consequences, would be better addressed at Union level, in particular where it is relevant to two or more competent authorities, the receiving competent authority may refer the question to the Commission for a decision. The Commission shall adopt that decision by means of implementing acts in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 81(3).

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 82 specifying when comparative assessments involve questions better addressed at Union level and the procedures for such comparative assessments.

6. Notwithstanding Article 17(4), and without prejudice to paragraph 4 of this Article, an authorisation for a biocidal product containing an active substance that is a candidate for substitution shall be granted for a period not exceeding five years and renewed for a period not exceeding five years.

7. Where it is decided not to authorise or to restrict the use of a biocidal product pursuant to paragraph 3, that cancellation or amendment of the authorisation shall take effect five years after that decision. However, where the approval of the active substance which is a candidate for substitution expires on an earlier date, the cancellation of the authorisation shall take effect on that earlier date.

Article 23

Technical guidance notes

The Commission shall draw up technical guidance notes to facilitate the implementation of this Chapter and, in particular, Articles 21(2) and 22(3).

CHAPTER V

SIMPLIFIED AUTHORISATION PROCEDURE

Article 24

Eligibility for the simplified authorisation procedure

For eligible biocidal products, an application for authorisation may be made under a simplified authorisation procedure. A biocidal product shall be eligible if all the following conditions are met:

(a) all the active substances contained in the biocidal product appear in Annex I and satisfy any restriction specified in that Annex;

(b) the biocidal product does not contain any substance of concern;

(c) the biocidal product is sufficiently effective; and

(d) the handling of the biocidal product and its intended use do not require personal protective equipment.

Article 25

Applicable procedure

1. Applicants seeking the authorisation of a biocidal product meeting the conditions of Article 24 shall submit an application to the Agency, informing it of the name of the competent authority of the Member State that it proposes should evaluate the application and providing written confirmation that that competent authority agrees to do so. That competent authority shall be the evaluating competent authority.

2. The Agency shall, after checking that it has been submitted in the correct format, notify the evaluating competent authority without delay that the application is available via the Register for Biocidal Products.

The evaluating competent authority shall inform the applicant of the fees payable under Article 79 and shall reject the application if the applicant fails to pay the fees within 30 days. It shall inform the applicant accordingly.

Upon receipt of the fees payable under Article 79, the evaluating competent authority shall accept the application and inform the applicant accordingly.

3. Within 90 days of accepting an application, the evaluating competent authority shall authorise the biocidal product if satisfied that the product meets the conditions laid down in Article 24.

4. Where the evaluating competent authority considers that the application is incomplete, it shall inform the applicant as to what additional information is required and shall set a reasonable time limit for the submission of that information. That time limit shall not normally exceed 90 days.

The evaluating competent authority shall, within 90 days of receipt of the additional information, authorise the biocidal product if satisfied, on the basis of the additional information submitted, that the product meets the conditions laid down in Article 24.

The evaluating competent authority shall reject the application if the applicant fails to submit the requested information within the deadline and shall inform the applicant accordingly. In such cases, part of the fee paid in accordance with Article 79 shall be reimbursed.

5. On authorising the biocidal product in accordance with paragraph 3 or 4, the evaluating competent authority shall without delay inform the applicant, the Agency and other competent authorities accordingly via the Register for Biocidal Products indicating the exact date of the authorisation.

6. An appeal may be brought, in accordance with Article 76, against decisions of the Agency under paragraph 2 of this Article.

Article 26

Making available on the market of biocidal products authorised in accordance with the simplified authorisation procedure

1. A biocidal product authorised in accordance with Article 25 may be made available on the market in all Member States without the need for mutual recognition. However, the authorisation holder shall notify each Member State before placing the biocidal product on the market within the territory of that Member State and shall use the official language or languages of that Member State in the product's labelling, unless that Member State provides otherwise.

2. Where a Member State other than that of the evaluating competent authority considers that a biocidal product authorised in accordance with Article 25 has not been notified or labelled in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article or does not meet the requirements of Article 24, it may refer that matter to the coordination group established in accordance with Article 34(1). Article 34(3) and Article 35 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Where a Member State has valid reasons to consider that a biocidal product authorised in accordance with Article 25 does not meet the criteria laid down in Article 24 and a decision pursuant to Articles 34 and 35 has not yet been taken, that Member State may provisionally restrict or prohibit the use or sale of that product on its territory.

Article 27

Amendment of Annex I

1. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 82 amending Annex I, after receiving the opinion of the Agency, in order to include active substances provided that there is evidence that they do not give rise to concern according to paragraph 2.

2. Active substances give rise to concern where:

(a) they fulfil the criteria for classification according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as: — explosive/highly flammable; — organic peroxide; — acutely toxic of category 1, 2 or 3; — corrosive of category IA, IB or IC; — respiratory sensitizer; — skin sensitizer; — germ cell mutagen of category 1 or 2; — carcinogen of category 1 or 2; — human reproductive toxicant of category 1 or 2 or with effects on or via lactation; — specific target organ toxicant by single or repeated exposure; or — toxic to aquatic life of acute category 1;

(b) they fulfil any of the substitution criteria set out in Article 10(1); or

(c) they have neurotoxic or immunotoxic properties.

Active substances also give rise to concern, even if none of the specific criteria in points (a) to (c) are met, where a level of concern equivalent to that arising from points (a) to (c) can be reasonably demonstrated based on reliable information.

3. The Commission shall also be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 82 amending Annex I, after receiving the opinion of the Agency, in order to restrict or to remove the entry for an active substance if there is evidence that biocidal products containing that substance do not, in certain circumstances, satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article or in Article 24. Where imperative grounds of urgency so require, the procedure provided for in Article 83 shall apply to delegated acts adopted pursuant to this paragraph.

4. The Commission shall apply paragraph 1 or 2 at its own initiative or at the request of an economic operator or a Member State providing the necessary evidence as referred to in those paragraphs.

Whenever the Commission amends Annex I it shall adopt a separate delegated act in respect of each substance.

CHAPTER VI

NATIONAL AUTHORISATIONS OF BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS

Article 28

Submission and validation of applications

1. Applicants wishing to apply for a national authorisation in accordance with Article 17 shall submit an application to the receiving competent authority. The receiving competent authority shall inform the applicant of the fees payable under Article 79, and shall reject the application if the applicant fails to pay the fees within 30 days. It shall inform the applicant accordingly. Upon receipt of the fees payable under Article 79, the receiving competent authority shall accept the application and inform the applicant indicating the exact date of the acceptance.

2. Within 30 days of acceptance, the receiving competent authority shall validate the application if it complies with the following requirements:

(a) the relevant information referred to in Article 19 has been submitted; and

(b) the applicant states that it has not applied to any other competent authority for a national authorisation for the same biocidal product for the same use(s).

In the context of the validation referred to in the first subparagraph, the receiving competent authority shall not make an assessment of the quality or the adequacy of the data or justifications submitted.

3. Where the receiving competent authority considers that the application is incomplete, it shall inform the applicant as to what additional information is required for the validation of the application and shall set a reasonable time limit for the submission of that information. That time limit shall not normally exceed 90 days.

The receiving competent authority shall, within 30 days of receipt of the additional information, validate the application if it determines that the additional information submitted is sufficient to comply with the requirements laid down in paragraph 1.

The receiving competent authority shall reject the application if the applicant fails to submit the requested information within the deadline and shall inform the applicant accordingly.

4. Where the Register for Biocidal Products shows that a competent authority other than the receiving competent authority is examining an application relating to the same biocidal product or has already authorised the same biocidal product, the receiving competent authority shall decline to evaluate the application. In that event, the receiving competent authority shall inform the applicant of the possibility of seeking mutual recognition in accordance with Article 32 or 33.

5. If paragraph 3 does not apply and the receiving competent authority considers that the application is complete, it shall validate the application and without delay inform the applicant accordingly and indicate the date of the validation.

Article 29

Evaluation of applications

1. The receiving competent authority shall, within 365 days of the validation of an application in accordance with Article 28, decide whether to grant an authorisation in accordance with Article 18. It shall take into account the results of the comparative assessment carried out in accordance with Article 22, if applicable.

2. Where it appears that additional information is necessary to carry out the evaluation, the receiving competent authority shall ask the applicant to submit such information within a specified time limit. The 365-day period referred to in paragraph 1 shall be suspended from the date of issue of the request until the date the information is received. The suspension shall not exceed 180 days in total unless it is justified by the nature of the data requested or by exceptional circumstances.

The receiving competent authority shall reject the application if the applicant fails to submit the requested information within the deadline and shall inform the applicant accordingly.

3. Within the 365-day period referred to in paragraph 1, the receiving competent authority shall:

(a) draft a report summarising the conclusions of its assessment and the reasons for authorising the biocidal product or for refusing to grant an autho