BiozidG - Comprehensive regulations and provisions

In Austria, the EU Directive 98/8/EC was transposed into national law by the Act on Biocidal Products (Federal Legal Gazette I No 105/2000). In line with plant protection products and chemical substances and preparations biocidal products are thus subject to pertinent legal provisions.

The Biocidal Products Act provides for a comprehensive evaluation procedure for active substances, as well as an authorisation procedure for biocidal products which takes into account specifically the risks for humans, animals and the environment associated with the use of these products. It also contains provisions for the classification, packaging and labelling of biocidal products. The Act stipulates that biocidal products require certain labelling elements in addition to those required according to the chemicals law. Specific provisions concerning advertising in printed media, radio or on television and the internet are also applicable.

The competent authority is also obliged to draw up a list of the biocidal products authorised and registered in its territory. The general public has access to the non-confidential information of this list on this homepage, see chapter Biocidal Products/Austrian Registry.

The sale of biocidal products with particularly dangerous properties to private users is now prohibited.

The Biocidal Products Act also provides for monitoring measures and surveillance to be carried out by specifically designated inspectors of the federal provinces.

Where necessary, the Biocidal Products Act refers to other regulations and statutory provisions, in particular those protecting the health of distributors, users, workers and consumers as well as animals and the environment.