CHEMICAL REGULATION

The UK Government has confirmed that rules governing biocidal products will be aligned with European Union regulations as part of a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

Announced on Monday, the agreement aims to make trade between the UK and the EU “easier, cheaper and more predictable”. It is expected to come into force in mid-2027.

The SPS agreement broadly covers standards and trade relating to plants, animals and food. Among the regulatory areas included is the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), which governs the approval of active substances and authorisation of biocidal products used across sectors, including professional pest management.

Alignment of GB and EU rules

When the UK was part of the EU, the Biocidal Products Regulation applied uniformly across all member states. Since the UK’s departure from the EU in 2020, two separate regulatory systems have operated: GB BPR, which applies in Great Britain, and EU BPR, which continues to apply in Northern Ireland.

Under the new agreement, GB BPR will be aligned with EU BPR. In practice, this means that the rules governing the approval of active substances and product authorisations will become broadly the same across both systems.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which is leading on the agreement, says the changes could affect several areas of the biocides sector.

According to Defra, alignment may impact “product authorisation, labelling, supply chains and operational practices of organisations across the biocides sector”.

The Government says the overall aim is to simplify the movement of goods both between the UK and the EU and within the UK itself, including smoother trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Guidance and industry feedback

Defra has already published initial guidance for businesses that may be affected by the agreement, alongside a joint article with the Northern Ireland Office for organisations trading in Northern Ireland.

More detailed guidance is expected to be published in May.

Alongside the announcement, Defra has launched a Call for Information to gather feedback from businesses and organisations on the proposed changes. The call closes on 23 April and seeks views on awareness of the agreement, its potential impacts and the type of guidance or support businesses may need.

BPCA will respond to the Call for Information to represent the views of the professional pest management sector.

Members who have concerns or comments they would like BPCA to raise with the Government are encouraged to contact the Association at

policy@bpca.org.uk

Source: