The HSE has published details on how Expiry dates of both new and existing CoPR products will be handled following the extension to the biocide active substance review programme until the end of 2024 (Regulation (EU) No 736/2013).

For existing approvals, If all the active substances contained within a particular product do not have an agreed approval date under EU BPR, then the expiry date for that product approval will be set at 31 December 2024.

If all the active substances contained within a particular product have an agreed approval date under EU BPR, then the expiry date for that product approval will initially be set in line with the provisions set out in Article 89 of EU BPR (currently up to 2 years, but likely to be up to 3 years if proposed amendments to EU BPR are agreed, after the latest active substance approval date).

For products containing active substance(s) that have EU BPR approval dates later than 01 September 2013, COPR will not “switch off/expire” on the date of approval of the last active substance(s) under EU BPR. Note: This is different to the old system under the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) and ‘Certificates of Exemption’ will no longer be issued for such products whilst they are being assessed for authorisation under EU BPR, as COPR will still apply to these products.

Once all the active substances in a product approved under COPR have been approved under EU BPR for that particular product type, action may need to be taken to amend the expiry dates of this product. This will be dependent on whether or not an application for authorisation of an equivalent product under EU BPR has been made.

Full details are available on : HSE website

For more information on how the BPR may affect your company please contact JSC on +44 (0)1423 520245, enquiries@jsci.co.uk

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