Biocides Europe 2024 – Event Review
The 27th annual Biocides Europe conference, hosted by Chemical Watch, has concluded in Vienna for another year. The conference highlighted a range of topics on the evolving Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). Here we share our key takeaways from this year’s event.
Evolving regulations
Vienna Christmas market at night.
Both the EU commission and ECHA provided comprehensive overviews on recent and upcoming changes and the challenges that the regulators will be facing in the next few years.
In March 2024 the delegated regulation to extend the active substance review programme was published. Approximately 50% of the review programme has been completed so far and the remaining 50% is now supposed to be completed by 31st December 2030. Additional regulations confirming any guidance agreed after the 1st January 2024 will not be applied to renewal substances is welcome news.
The same biocidal product, mutual recognition and changes of biocidal products regulations are all being updated. Creating simpler processes can create huge benefits but adding additional deadlines for submitting changes could cause some trouble for industry.
Maximum Residue Levels
A lot of work has been performed in this area under plant protection products and veterinary medicine directives, but these limits are not consistently applied, or appropriate, for biocidal products. It is positive to hear that the European Commission are trying to take a harmonised approach to MRLs and not increase the compliance burden for manufacturers.
New Approach Methodology (NAMS)
Whilst there is no formal definition yet for NAMs the general understanding is that these are alternative testing methods that can be used to replace animal testing. There are already examples of NAMs being available for checking skin and eye corrosion and irritation, dermal absorption and some endocrine disruption activities.
It is great to see the shift away from animal testing but there is still work needed to ensure that methods are applied consistently.
There have been a lot of changes to the biocidal product regulations in recent years, and this trend looks set to continue in 2025.