Biocides: EU active substance expiry dates postponed, approval date and unsupported
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HSE ebulletin

Issued: 22 April 2026

This ebulletin contains information on regulating biocides in Northern Ireland (NI).

EU active substance expiry dates postponed

Active substance expiry dates postponed whilst the renewal evaluations are completed in the EU. 

For reasons beyond the control of the applicants, the approvals of the active substance/product type combinations listed were likely to expire before a decision could be taken on their renewal under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR). 

To allow sufficient time for the renewal evaluation to be completed, a decision has been taken to postpone the expiry dates of the following approvals. This affects NI:

From ​30 April 2026​ to ​31 October 2028​ 


From ​30 June 2026​ to ​30 June 2027​ 


From ​30 June 2026​ to ​31 December 2028​ 


If you want to supply new biocidal products containing these active substances, you can still 
apply for EU BPR product authorisation. New products, including new trade names, must not be supplied in NI until product authorisation is granted. 

HSE will provide separate updates on the renewal decisions when relevant.


Upcoming EU active substance approval date

Apply for product authorisation by the deadline to keep your products on the NI market.

The following EU BPR active substance approval date is coming up:

1 June 2026

  • reaction products of boric acid with didecylamine and ethylene oxide (polymeric betaine) (CAS 214710-34-6 EC 695-923-4) in product type 8

If you supply biocidal products containing this active substance in the relevant product type, don’t forget to apply for EU BPR product authorisation by the date above to keep them on the NI market.


Active substance no longer supported in the EU

Non-approval decision to be taken for unsupported active substance in the EU.

Following an opportunity for any person, company or task force/consortium to support the active substance/product type combination listed in the EU Review Programme, no compliant notification was received. This affects NI:

  • alkyl (C12-C14) dimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ADBAC (C12-C14)) (CAS 85409-22-9 EC 287-089-1) in product type 22

This active substance/product type combination will now be subject to an EU non-approval decision.

Once a decision is taken, the active substance will no longer be able to be used in biocidal products of the relevant product type in NI. In addition articles treated with such products will no longer be able to be placed on the market in NI. HSE will provide separate updates on the decision and relevant phase-out periods.

If you are aware of any disproportionate negative impacts that are likely to arise from the non-approval of the active substance/product type combination listed, please contact us as soon as possible.

HSE at The Health and Safety Event

28 to 30 April, NEC Birmingham.

The Health and Safety Event is the UK’s largest event focused on improving workplace safety.

Visit stand 3/B50 to speak to our inspectors, technical specialists and product experts. 

We will also run a series of topic-focused seminars in mini-theatre 3/B40.

Register for your free place at Health and Safety Event website.

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