Dir 98/8/EC – The main objectives

The Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market is based on the following principles:

• A 10-year-review-programme for evaluation of all active substances of biocidal products already on the market on 14 May 2000

• Differentiation between authorisation (common biocidal products) and registration (low-risk biocidal products), whereas the decisions for authorisation/registration are based on a risk characterisation

• Accelerated national authorisation/registration through mutual recognition of authorisations/registrations granted in another Member State, as applicable

• Annex I/IA-entries of Dir 98/8/EC comprising active substances in which are allowed to be contained in biocidal products

• Prohibition of biocidal products with high risk potential for use by the general public

• Risk mitigation measures for potentially hazardous products based on harmonised guidelines and standards

• Establishment of prerequisites for the substitution of an active substance, which is contained in biocidal products which give rise to concern, by another active substance which presents significantly less risk to health or to the environment.

• Minimisation of experiments involving vertebrate animals due to enhanced use of available data and information

• Harmonisation of the law in order to eliminate barriers to trade within the EEA

• Harmonisation of the regulations for newly developed biocidal active substances and products

The Directive 2008/31/EC amends Directive 98/8/EC in terms of the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. Directive 2009/107/EC extends the EU-Review-Programme to 2014.

To account for the experience gained from the implementation of the Directive as well as for current demands, a revision of the Directive is being generated. The new regulation is expected to enter into force in 2013.