Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

3 July 2012

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 501/2012

European Union (EU)* : Marketing and Use of Biocidal Products

The European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Regulation concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products. The Regulation aims to improve the free movement of biocidal products within the Union through harmonisation of rules while ensuring a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment. Details are set out in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012 (the Regulation), which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:167:0001:0123:EN:PDF

DETAILS

2. The Regulation shall apply to biocidal products and treated articles. Types of biocidal products covered by this Regulation and their descriptions are set out in Annex V of the Regulation but exceptions are stated under Article 2(2) of the Regulation.
 

3. The Regulation lays down rules for:

1. the establishment of a Union list of active substances which may be used in biocidal products (under Articles 4-16);
2. the authorisation of biocidal products (under Articles 17-31);
3. the mutual recognition of authorisation within the Union (under Articles 32-52);
4. the making available on the market and the use of biocidal products within one or more Member States or the Union (under Articles 53-57); and
5. the placing on the market of treated articles (under Article 58).

4. Details of the transitional measures concerning active substances, biocidal products as well as treated articles are set out in Articles 90, 91-93 and 94 respectively. Except as specified under certain provisions, the Regulation shall apply from 1 September 2013.

ENQUIRIES

5. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5556.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Anita WONG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.