Pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1451/2007, Ireland, Estonia, Italy, Poland, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Latvia, Finland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark and Malta have submitted separate applications to the Commission for permission to allow the placing on the market of biocidal products containing copper for a number of uses.

The Commission made the applications publicly available by electronic means.

It follows from the applications that transmission of Legionella has been associated, in particular, with use of water such as drinking water, bathing water, showering water and water in cooling towers. Furthermore, it follows that Legionella can be fatal, especially in vulnerable groups such as hospital patients. According to the applications, selection of a suitable system for legionella control is complex and depends on a number of parameters such as system design, age, complexity and water chemistry.

It also follows from some of the applications, that biocidal products containing copper are used to prevent growth of organisms in water used in swimming pools that can lead to a wide variety infections.

Furthermore, it follows from some of the applications, that biocidal products containing copper are used to prevent growth of organisms in the main water inlet for offshore oil and gas platforms as well as other marine and coastal installations, where that use is essential to avoid blocking the inlet of water used for, i.a., processing, drinking water and bathing water production, and fire fighting, since blocking that inlet could be fatal for the health and safety of the staff at the installation.

Lastly, it follows from some of the applications, that biocidal products containing copper are used to prevent growth of organisms in the main water inlet ships, where that use is essential to avoid blocking the inlet of water used throughout the entire pipework and waterway system of a ship. This includes the internals of all pipework, like the fire suppression system, vital to the safe operation of the ship.

No comments were received during the public consultation on these applications. The Member States having submitted the applications have argued that, in their territories, it is necessary to have an adequate range of technical and economic feasible alternatives available to control legionella, or other harmful organisms, and, where relevant, to reduce the risk of blocking the main water inlet for offshore installations, other marine and coastal installations, or on ships.

It therefore appears likely that not allowing use for Legionella control or other harmful organisms, or where relevant for preventing growth of organisms in the water inlet for offshore oil and gas platforms, other marine and coastal installations, or on ships, in those Member States would currently pose a serious risk for public health. In addition, the cost, logistical and practical feasibility of turning off or substituting current copper-based systems on ships may be prohibitive in many cases. If feasible, the substitution may take some time. The requested derogations for essential use are therefore currently necessary.

However, unless a complete application for approval of copper for use in the relevant product-types is submitted without undue delay, users of biocidal products containing copper should implement alternative methods for Legionella control or organism growth prevention. It is therefore appropriate to require that, in such a case, users in those Member States are actively informed in due time to allow them to ensure that those alternative methods are effective before the biocidal products containing copper have to be withdrawn from the market,