In an article published on March 27, 2018 by regulatory news provider Chemical Watch, editor Vanessa Zainzinger informed about the implementation of the EU criteria to identify endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the field of biocides. The European Commission adopted the scientific criteria to identify endocrine disrupting biocides in September 2017 (FPF reported) and published its delegated regulation in November 2017 (FPF reported). Zainzinger reported that “the biocides competent authorities (CAs) adopted two papers” setting out “how the criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals will be realized in the approval processes for biocidal substances and products.” The EDC criteria for biocides will take effect on June 7, 2018 (FPF reported).
Substances with an assessment report submitted before September 1, 2013 will not be affected by the EDC criteria as they still fall under the EU’s former Biocidal Products Directive (BPD). However, substances with an assessment report submitted after September 1, 2013 fall under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) and will be subject to the EDC criteria. Zainzinger noted that the EDC criteria will apply to both biocidal active and non-active substances (i.e., co-formulants) in pending product authorization applications.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are currently preparing a guidance document on the implementation of the EDC criteria, specifying the data requirements for assessing endocrine disrupting properties. A draft of the guidance was published in December 2017 (FPF reported) and a public consultation was held until January 31, 2018 (FPF reported). Publication of the final guidance is expected by June 2018.
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Vanessa Zainzinger (March 27, 2018). “European biocides authorities agree how EDC criteria will work in practice.” Chemical Watch
