ECHA will list overseas biocide producers complying with EU rules
Cleanroom managers will know which overseas suppliers they can contact to purchase biocides that are legal within the EU
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission have decided to include non-EU companies in the upcoming EU list of approved biocidal active substances. The new rule will mean that cleanroom managers will know what overseas suppliers they can contact to purchase biocides that are legal within the EU.
The mandatory list will come into force from 1 September 1 2015; only included substances can be sold and used in the EU.
The Commission and ECHA have now agreed that non-EU companies applying for substances to be included will now be identified on the list, next to their EU representative. Non-EU companies requesting that a new biocidal substance be included on the list will also be named in future, along with their EU representatives.
An ECHA note said that 'to ensure equal treatment' for all suppliers, the revised regulation stresses that all non-EU manufacturers can appoint an EU representative, if they wish. Indeed, non-EU companies participating in the EU biocides review programme will be contacted by ECHA for more information about their EU-representatives. And ECHA forms used by such representatives have been modified so their foreign partners can be named.