Regulatory Changes for Active Bromine Biocidal Products in Great Britain

Under the Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), which governs the supply and use of biocidal products in Great Britain, several precursor combinations used to generate Active Bromine for biocidal purposes will be phased out of the market. This move comes after industry stakeholders decided to withdraw their support for the necessary safety and efficacy reviews of these substances, required under the GB BPR framework.

The GB BPR, grouping biocidal products into 22 distinct types based on their application, had offered an opportunity for entities to support the review process of biocidal active substances, including those generated in-situ. However, the HSE reports a lack of compliant notifications from the industry to continue support for the following Active Bromine generating combinations:

Active bromine generated from bromine chloride in product type 11Active bromine generated from hypobromous acid and urea and bromourea in product types 11 and 12Active bromine generated from sodium bromide and calcium hypochlorite in product type 2Active bromine generated from sodium bromide and chlorine in product type 2Active bromine generated from sodium bromide and sodium hypochlorite in product type 2Active bromine generated from sodium bromide by electrolysis in product type 2Active bromine generated from sodium hypobromite and N-bromosulfamate and sulfamic acid in product type 11

The absence of support for these combinations means they are subject to a non-approval decision by GB BPR, leading to their eventual removal from the GB market. Products containing these active substances will no longer be supplied or utilized in Great Britain following the designated phase-out period.

This regulatory adjustment underscores the commitment of HSE to maintain high safety and efficacy standards for biocidal products. Stakeholders are advised to prepare for the transition and the discontinuation of affected biocidal products.

HSE urges industry members and other stakeholders to report any potential disproportionate negative effects resulting from these changes by 8 March 2024. Detailed updates on the non-approval decisions and the relevant phase-out periods will be provided separately by HSE, ensuring all parties are well-informed and can adapt to the new regulatory landscape.

This development marks a pivotal moment for the biocidal product industry in Great Britain, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance and the collective effort to ensure public health and safety.