Upcoming EU active substance approval date

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

The following EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR) active substance approval date is coming up:

1 October 2026

• 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT) (CAS 2634-33-5 EC 220-120-9) in product types 6 and 13
• formic acid (CAS 64-18-6 EC 200-579-1) in product type 6

If you supply biocidal products containing these active substances in the relevant product types, don’t forget to apply for EU BPR product authorisation by the date above to keep them on the Northern Ireland market.

Upcoming EU active substance expiry date

Biocidal products must be phased off the NI market

The active substance/product type combinations listed are due to expire under the EU BPR on the following date. This affects NI:

31 January 2027

• hydrogen peroxide (CAS 7722-84-1 EC 231-765-0) in product type 6
• N-((6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl)-N′-cyano-N-methylethanimidamide (acetamiprid) (CAS 135410-20-7 EC 603-921-1) in product type 18

Once the approvals expire, the active substances will no longer be able to be used in biocidal products of the relevant product types in NI. In addition articles treated with such products will no longer be able to be placed on the market in NI.

If you hold an affected EU BPR product authorisation or Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) product approval, we will contact you about cancelling or revoking your authorisation or approval. You will have an opportunity to submit comments or additional information and we will take account of these when finalising our decision.

If you are aware of any disproportionate negative impacts that are likely to arise from the expiry of the active substance/product type combinations listed, please contact us.

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 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:

31 December 2025 to 31 December 2027

• (2E)-1-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl) methyl]-N-nitroimidazolidin-2- imine (imidacloprid) (CAS 138261-41-3 EC 428-040-8) in product type 18
  
  

31 October 2025 to 30 April 2028

• methyl (E)-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy]phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate (azoxystrobin) (CAS 131860-33-8 EC 603-524-3) in product types 7, 9, and 10
• 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl trans-2-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (transfluthrin) (CAS 118712-89-3 EC 405-060-5) in product type 18
• lauric acid (CAS 143-07-7 EC 205-582-1) in product type 19
• 3-(N-acetyl-N-butyl)aminopropionic acid ethyl ester (ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate (IR3535)) (CAS 52304-36-6 EC 257-835-0) in product type 19
  
  

31 December 2025 to 30 June 2028

• Pythium oligandrum, Chromista – Stramenopila (CAS N/A EC N/A) in product type 10
• 4,5-dichloro-2-octylisothiazol-3(2H)-one (4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (DCOIT)) (CAS 64359-81-5 EC 264-843-8) in product types 8 and 21
• bis(1-hydroxy-1H-pyridine-2-thionato- O,S)copper (copper pyrithione) (CAS 14915-37-8 EC 238-984-0) in product type 21
• zinc ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) (polymeric) (zineb) (CAS 12122-67-7 EC 235-180-1) in product type 21
• dicopper oxide (CAS 1317-39-1 EC 215-270-7) in product type 21
• copper thiocyanate (CAS 1111-67-7 EC 214-183-1) in product type 21

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.

Join us at Safe Net Zero 2025

25 and 26 November, Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, Edinburgh

HSE has now confirmed the agenda for our eagerly anticipated Safe Net Zero 2025 conference.

This year, the theme of this event is ‘safety considerations for the production and large scale storage of hydrogen and its derivatives’.

A 10% reduced rate is available when booking 3 or more delegates onto this event.

Visit our website to access the confirmed agenda and book your place.