In today’s world, biocides are indispensable to protect humans, animals, materials or articles against harmful organisms. From disinfectants and insect repellents to wood preservatives, these products safeguard us from harmful microorganisms and pests. However, understanding and complying with the regulations around biocides can be complex, given the many different product types, uses, and regulatory guidelines. In this article, we’ll explore the categories of biocidal products, their applications, and the importance of compliance.
What Are Biocides, and Why Are They Important?
Biocides are chemical products used to control or eliminate harmful organisms through targeted action. They are essential across various sectors, from industrial facilities to healthcare, to help reduce health risks and ensure product longevity. However, these agents must be carefully managed to avoid adverse effects on health and the environment.
The European Union’s Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR; Regulation (EU) 528/2012) lays down requirements for active ingredients and biocidal products, aiming to protect human health and ecosystems. A key element of this regulation is the classification of biocidal products into 22 product types, organized into four main categories based on their intended use. Understanding these categories and classifications is crucial for businesses involved in the production, distribution, or use of biocidal products.
The Four Main Categories of Biocidal Product Types
To simplify the broad array of applications, the EU divides biocidal products into four main categories:
- Disinfectants and General Biocidal Products
- Preservatives
- Pest Control
- Other Biocidal Products
Each of these categories contains specific product types, each serving different applications and uses. Let’s examine each category to better understand the role of these biocidal products in various industries.
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Disinfectants and General Biocidal Products (Product Types 1-5)
This category includes biocidal products used primarily for disinfection , making them essential for public health and hygiene.
- Product Type 1: Human Hygiene
Products in this group are biocidal products used for human hygiene purposes, applied on or in contact with human skin or scalps for the primary purpose of disinfecting the skin or scalp. - Product Type 2: Disinfectants and Algaecides Not Intended for Direct Application to Humans or Animals
Used for the disinfection of surfaces, materials, equipment and furniture which are not used for direct contact with food or feeding stuffs. Usage areas include, inter alia, swimming pools, aquariums, bathing and other waters; air conditioning systems; and walls and floors in private, public, and industrial areas and in other areas for professional activities.
Used for disinfection of air, water not used for human or animal consumption, chemical toilets, waste water, hospital waste and soil.
Used as algaecides for treatment of swimming pools, aquariums and other waters and for remedial treatment of construction materials.
Used to be incorporated in textiles, tissues, masks, paints and other articles or materials with the purpose of producing treated articles with disinfecting properties.
- Product Type 3: Veterinary Hygiene
Used for veterinary hygiene purposes such as disinfectants, disinfecting soaps, oral or corporal hygiene products or with anti-microbial function.Used to disinfect the materials and surfaces associated with the housing or transportation of animals.
- Product Type 4: Food and Feed Area
Used for the disinfection of equipment, containers, consumption utensils, surfaces or pipework associated with the production, transport, storage or consumption of food or feed (including drinking water) for humans and animals.Used to impregnate materials which may enter into contact with food.
- Product Type 5: Drinking Water
Used for the disinfection of drinking water for both humans and animals.
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Preservatives (Product Types 6-13)
Preservatives protect materials from degradation caused by microorganisms, extending product lifespans and reducing waste.
- Product Type 6: Preservatives for Products During Storage
Used for the preservation of manufactured products, other than foodstuffs, feeding stuffs, cosmetics or medicinal products or medical devices by the control of microbial deterioration to ensure their shelf life.
Used as preservatives for the storage or use of rodenticide, insecticide or other baits.
- Product Type 7: Film Preservatives
Used for the preservation of films or coatings by the control of microbial deterioration or algal growth in order to protect the initial properties of the surface of materials or objects such as paints, plastics, sealants, wall adhesives, binders, papers, art works. - Product Type 8: Wood Preservatives
Used for the preservation of wood, from and including the saw-mill stage, or wood products by the control of wood-destroying or wood-disfiguring organisms, including insects. This product type includes both preventive and curative products. - Product Type 9: Fiber, Leather, Rubber, and Polymerized Materials Preservatives
Used for the preservation of fibrous or polymerised materials, such as leather, rubber or paper or textile products by the control of microbiological deterioration.
This product-type includes biocidal products which antagonise the settlement of micro-organisms on the surface of materials and therefore hamper or prevent the development of odour and/or offer other kinds of benefits. - Product Type 10: Construction Material Preservatives
Used for the preservation of masonry, composite materials, or other construction materials other than wood by the control of microbiological and algal attack. - Product Type 11: Preservatives for Liquid-Cooling and Processing Systems
Used for the preservation of water or other liquids used in cooling and processing systems by the control of harmful organisms such as microbes, algae and mussels.
Products used for the disinfection of drinking water or of water for swimming pools are not included in this product-type. - Product Type 12: Slimicides
Used for the prevention or control of slime growth on materials, equipment and structures, used in industrial processes, e.g. on wood and paper pulp, porous sand strata in oil extraction. - Product Type 13: Working or Cutting Fluid Preservatives
Products to control microbial deterioration in fluids used for working or cutting metal, glass or other materials.
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Pest Control (Product Types 14-20)
Biocides in pest control are designed to target specific pests, providing solutions across industrial and public health sectors.
- Product Type 14: Rodenticides
Used for the control of mice, rats or other rodents, by means other than repulsion or attraction. - Product Type 15: Avicides
Used for the control of birds, by means other than repulsion or attraction. - Product Type 16: Molluscicides
Used for the control of molluscs, worms and invertebrates not covered by other product types, by means other than repulsion or attraction. - Product Type 17: Piscicides
Used for the control of fish, by means other than repulsion or attraction. - Product Type 18: Insecticides, Acaricides, and Products to Control Other Arthropods
Used for the control of arthropods (e.g. insects, arachnids and crustaceans), by means other than repulsion or attraction. - Product Type 19: Repellents and Attractants
Used to control harmful organisms (invertebrates such as fleas, vertebrates such as birds, fish, rodents), by repelling or attracting, including those that are used for human or veterinary hygiene either directly on the skin or indirectly in the environment of humans or animals. - Product Type 20: Control of Other Vertebrates
Used for the control of vertebrates other than those already covered by the other product types of this main group, by means other than repulsion or attraction.
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Other Biocidal Products (Product Types 21-22)
This final category includes biocidal products with specialized uses that don’t fall under the previous categories.
- Product Type 21: Antifouling Products
Used to control the growth and settlement of fouling organisms (microbes and higher forms of plant or animal species) on vessels, aquaculture equipment or other structures used in water. - Product Type 22: Embalming and Taxidermy Fluids
Used for the disinfection and preservation of human or animal corpses, or parts thereof.
How Chemsafe Can Support Your Biocidal Compliance Needs
With the wide range of applications and regulatory standards for biocidal products, ensuring full compliance with the Biocidal Products Regulation is vital for companies aiming to stay competitive and responsible. Compliance not only facilitates safe market access but is also essential for protecting public health and the environment. However, keeping up with these detailed requirements is challenging for many businesses. This is where Chemsafe’s Biocide Business Unit comes in.
Chemsafe offers specialized expertise in regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and product classification, providing businesses with a dependable partner for all their biocide-related needs. Our Biocide Business Unit can help you identify the correct product type, ensure alignment with the latest regulatory standards, and provide ongoing guidance as regulations evolve. This allows your business to focus on what it does best while maintaining the assurance that your biocidal products are both safe and compliant.
Whether you are developing new disinfectants, preserving materials, or offering pest control solutions, Chemsafe is here to support your journey toward responsible, compliant, and effective biocide use.
Sources: https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation/product-types
