- Home
- Activities and Initiatives
- Biocides Assessment
further information
-
Use of biocides
Biocides are used when harmful organisms are to be killed or dispelled from human beings or domestic animals. The range of parasites reaches from gnawing animals (e.g. rats and mice), insects (e.g. wood worms, mosquitoes), spiders and shells to micro-organisms like mould fungi and bacteria. If biocides containing products are applied incorrectly, they are potentially dangerous both for non-target organisms and for users, since these products contain toxic substances.
-
European regulations on biocide products
To ensure that biocide products take effect but do not have any harmful side effects for people, non-target organisms and the environment, a European regulation was introduced. In May 2012, the biocide Council Regulation (EU) 528/2012 of the European Parliament came into force. Since the 1st September 2013, the Regulation (EU) 528/2012 together with the German Chemical law (ChemG) have implemented the EU biocidal law in Germany.
-
Evaluation of biocide dossiers
The authorization of biocides has been transferred to the Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA).
The Federal Office for Chemicals / Authorisation of Biocides at (BAuA is responsible for:
- Request for inclusion biocides of an active substance into the Regulation (EU) No 528/2012
- Request for authorisation of a biocide product in an EU Member State and mutual recognition of biocide products between the EU Member States.
The Authorisation Unit for Biocides at BAuA is supported by other authorities.
BfR Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung
responsible for health risk evaluationUBA Umweltbundesamt
responsible for ecological risk evaluationBAuA Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin
responsible for occupational risk assessmentRKI Robert Koch-Institut
responsible for evaluation of effectiveness of disinfectants in the medical areaJKI Julius Kühn-Institut
responsible for evaluation of effectiveness of control of rodents and storage protection agentsBAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung
-
BAM's contribution
BAM Assessment Point for Biocides acts on behalf of BAuA’s Authorisation Unit for Biocides.
BAM group Technical Aspects of Environmental Law coordinates the evaluation of biocide dossiers from various BAM divisions:
Division Classification of Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods gets involved by the Federal Office for Chemicals (BfC) in accordance with § 12 a (2) Chemicals Act (Chemikaliengesetz, ChemG), if the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung has special expertise in the relevant issue due to further legal responsibilities in the assessment of physical hazards according to Annex I Part 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 and of safety properties and if the relevant issue cannot be conclusively assessed by the Federal Office for Chemicals (BfC).
Division Dangerous Goods Packagings is responsible for the assessment of the compatibilty of packaging materials with biocide products
Division Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms evaluates the effectiveness of biocide products in material protection such as:
- In-can preservative against formation of mould in water based paints/colours and adhesives
- Film preservative against algae, fungi and lichens on hardened paints, plastics and wall adhesives
- Food preservation against wood-destroying insects, fungi and micro-organisms
- Preservatives to protect fibres, leathers, rubber and polymerised materials
- Masonry preservatives for brick-work and plasters
- Protective agents for liquids in cooling and processing systems
- Slime protective agents in wood and paper pulp
- Protective agents for metalworking fluids
The special task "Implementation/Coordination of EU Biocide Law" is supervised in Department Materials and Environment.
On request, expert reports are prepared for the Federal Ministries, for the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) and for other agencies of the the EU Commission.
-
FAQ
- FAQ PA 08 - Use of wood preservation agents in a multi-layer system
- 1 | Has an applicant to prove the effectiveness of a wood preservation system as a system?
- 2 | Has an applicant to demonstrate the non-effectiveness of a coating without bioactive ingredients?
- 3 | Which tests on biological effectiveness has the applicant to carry out, if wood preservatives and film preservatives are combined in a product?
- 4 | Has an applicant to carry out new tests in accordance with EN 73 (evaporation) and/or EN 84 (leaching) when the wood preservative is changed but the system otherwise remains unchanged?
- FAQ PA 08 - FAQ PA 08 - Control of lyctid powder post beetles
- 1 | Is a control of lyctid powder post beetles useful? When yes? When no?
- More information
FAQ PA 08 - Use of wood preservation agents in a multi-layer system
Wood preservations may be used in so-called systems like combinations with decorative coatings and/or with transparent finishings to protect the preservative against physical effects such as UV radiation, precipitation, mechanical abrasion etc. In practice a system is already present, if the wood preservation priming is simply covered with a finish coating. Systems arise with industrial manufacture of wood or wood based products (e.g. windows, doors, fence fields etc.) when repetitive layers of product and coatings are applied.d.
1 | Has an applicant to prove the effectiveness of a wood preservation system as a system?
Yes, if the label of the system claims “Wood protected against…” or “Product against wood-destroying … organisms” or likewise. An examination of the system is redundant, if effectiveness of the wood preservative without the system is shown and when the loading of the wood preservation in the system is equal to the loading of the wood preservative in the test without the system.ht.
2 | Has an applicant to demonstrate the non-effectiveness of a coating without bioactive ingredients?
No, the non-effectiveness of the inactive substances in the wood preservation or a system may be justified by structural effectiveness relationships, literature data etc.
3 | Which tests on biological effectiveness has the applicant to carry out, if wood preservatives and film preservatives are combined in a product?
If the claim of the wood preservative product is singly wood preservation, then film preservation actives remain formally unconsidered. A possible contribution to the entire effectiveness in the wood preservation is included integrally with the examination of the system. However, if the non- wood preservation active substances are bio-available, corresponding data for the biological effectiveness for the evaluation of the toxicological and eco-toxicological characteristics may be expected..
4 | Has an applicant to carry out new tests in accordance with EN 73 (evaporation) and/or EN 84 (leaching) when the wood preservative is changed but the system otherwise remains unchanged?
With industrial manufacture of well fitted products (e.g. windows and doors) thick layer lasures are mostly used. In the case of the comparable quality of laminating and with comparable chemical-physical characteristics of the wood preservative main components (e.g. viscosity, wettability/liability of the layer with the wood preservative etc.) - after individual case examination - one can waive renewed pre demands. In the case of not well fitted products (e.g. fence fields) thin layer lasures are often used. Compared with thick layer lasures, thin layer lasures still evaporative active. That means incoming and outgasing of humidity is possible which may result in evaporation or leaching of active compounds. In the case of such open systems the applicant cannot waive pre demands before biological tests. New tests will be required in any case when bioactive ingredients in the wood preservative have been changed.
2010-04-16
FAQ PA 08 - FAQ PA 08 - Control of lyctid powder post beetles
1 | Is a control of lyctid powder post beetles useful?
When yes? When no?Infestations of lyctid powder post beetles occur on starchy sapwood parts of hardwoods, often locally limited, however very aggressively. Once an infestation is detected, destroyed wooden parts should be removed and replaced rather than treated with wood preservatives. Only very slight infestations by lycid powder post beetles can be curatively treated by applying heat or microwave radiation.Note: Most lyctid powder post beetles originate from subtropical to tropical regions. Their development is independent from seasonal changes, so that they constantly reproduce in large numbers under warm environmental conditions like inside houses where they may breed in furniture, window frames or parquet floors. The brown powder post beetle Lyctus brunneus was introduced most likely with tropical woods whereas Lyctus linearis is meanwhile native to central Europe.
More information
ECHA EUROPE - European Chemicals Agency
The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)