Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

INTRODUCTION

1. This Annex lays down principles to ensure that evaluations made and decisions taken by a Member State concerning the authorisation of a biocidal product providing it is a chemical preparation results in a harmonised high level of protection for humans, animals and the environment in accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of this Directive.

2. In order to ensure a high and harmonised level of protection of human and animal health and of the environment, any risks arising from the use of a biocidal product shall be identified. To achieve this a risk assessment shall be carried out to determine the acceptability or otherwise of any risks identified during the proposed normal use of the biocidal product. This is done by carrying out an assessment of the risks associated with the relevant individual components of the biocidal product.

3. A risk assessment on the active substance or substances present in the biocidal product is always required. This will already have been carried out for the purpose of Annexes I, IA or IB. This risk assessment shall entail hazard identification, and, as appropriate, dose (concentration) — response (effect) assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterisation. Where a quantitative risk assessment cannot be made a qualitative assessment shall be produced.

4. Additional risk assessments shall be carried out, in the same manner as described above, on any other substance of concern present in the biocidal product where relevant for the use of the biocidal product.

5. In order to carry out a risk assessment data are required. These data are detailed in Annexes II, III and IV and, recognising that there are a wide variety of product types, are flexible according to the product type and associated risks. The data required shall be the minimum necessary to carry out an appropriate risk assessment. Member States should take due consideration of the requirements of Articles 12 and 13 of this Directive in order to avoid duplication of data submissions. The minimum set of data required for an active substance in any biocidal product type, however, shall be that detailed in Annex VIIA to Directive 67/548/EEC; these data will already have been submitted and assessed as part of the risk assessment required for entry of the active substance into Annex I, IA or IB to this Directive. Data may also be required on a substance of concern present in a biocidal product.

6. The results of the risk assessments carried out on an active substance and on a substance of concern present in the biocidal product shall be integrated to produce an overall assessment for the biocidal product itself.

7. When making evaluations and taking decisions concerning the authorisation of a biocidal product the Member State shall:

(a)

take into consideration other relevant technical or scientific information which is reasonably available to them with regard to the properties of the biocidal product, its components, metabolites, or residues;

(b)

evaluate, where relevant, justifications submitted by the applicant for not supplying certain data.

8. The Member State shall comply with the requirements of mutual recognition as stated in Articles 4(1), (2) and (6) of this Directive.

9. It is known that many biocidal products present only minor differences in composition and this should be taken into account when evaluating dossiers. The concept of ‘frame-formulations’ is relevant here.

10. It is known that certain biocidal products are considered as posing only a low risk, these biocidal products, while complying with the requirements of this Annex, are subject to a simplified procedure as detailed in Article 3 of this Directive.

11. The application of these common principles shall lead to the Member State deciding whether or not a biocidal product can be authorised, such authorisation may include restrictions on use or other conditions. In certain cases the Member State may conclude that more data are required before an authorisation decision can be made.

12. During the process of evaluation and decision-making, Member States and applicants shall cooperate in order to resolve any questions on the data requirements quickly or to identify at an early stage any additional studies required, or to amend any proposed conditions for the use of the biocidal product or to modify its nature or its composition in order to ensure full compliance with the requirements of this Annex or of this Directive. The administrative burden, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), shall be kept to the minimum necessary without prejudicing the level of protection afforded to humans, animals and the environment.

13. The judgments made by the Member State during the evaluation and decision-making process must be based on scientific principles, preferably recognised at international level, and be made with the benefit of expert advice.