The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is consulting on the availability of substitutes and alternatives to imidacloprid.
The EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR) applies in NI.
Under EU BPR active substances will be considered candidates for substitution if they meet the substitution criteria set out in Article 10(1). This means that the supply and use of biocidal products containing candidates for substitution must be prohibited or restricted under EU BPR, unless it can be shown that:
- for the uses specified for that product, there are no other authorised biocidal products or existing non-chemical control or prevention methods that:
- present a significantly lower overall risk for human health, animal health and the environment
- are sufficiently effective
- present no other significant economic or practical disadvantages
- the chemical diversity of the available active substances is not adequate to minimise the occurrence of resistance in the target harmful organism
The following active substance has been identified as a potential candidate for substitution under EU BPR and ECHA has launched a public consultation to collect information on the availability of substitutes and alternatives, running until the stated date:
9 February 2026
- imidacloprid (CAS 138261-41-3 EC 428-040-8) in product type 18
View the public consultation.
Comments should be submitted to ECHA using the dedicated webforms.
Please note this consultation and its outcome are not applicable under the GB Biocidal Products Regulations (GB BPR).
ECHA is consulting on potential candidates for substitution and on derogation conditions.
The EU BPR applies in NI. Under the EU BPR, if an active substance meets the exclusion criteria set out in Article 5(1), it would not normally be approved for use in biocidal products. Tebuconazole has been identified as fulfilling at least one of the criteria set out in the Article 5(1) exclusion criteria under EU BPR.
Where an active substance meets at least one of the exclusion criteria listed in Article 5(1), it may still be approved in accordance with Article 5(2) if one of the following conditions are met:
- the risk to humans, animals or the environment from exposure to the active substance in a biocidal product, under realistic conditions of use, is negligible
- the active substance is essential to prevent a serious danger to human or animal health or the environment
- not approving the substance would have a disproportionate negative impact on society compared to the risks
In these circumstances the active substance will also be considered as a candidate for substitution under Article 10(1) of the EU BPR.
Before submitting its opinion on the approval or renewal of the active substance to the Commission, ECHA will launch a consultation to collect information on potential alternatives to this substance (Article 10(3) of EU BPR).
The following active substance has been identified as a potential candidate for substitution under EU BPR and ECHA has launched a public consultation running until the stated date:
13 February 2026
- 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)pentan-3-ol (tebuconazole) (CAS 107534-96-3 EC 403-640-2) in product type 8
View the public consultation.
Comments should be submitted to ECHA using the dedicated webforms.
Please note this consultation and its outcome are not applicable under the GB Biocidal Products Regulations (GB BPR).
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