The biocidal products regulation (BPR, regulation (EU) 528/2012) concerns the placing on the market and use of biocidal products, which are used to protect humans, animals, materials or articles against harmful organisms, like pests or bacteria, by the action of the active substances contained in a biocidal product. The purpose of the regulation is to improve the functioning of the market of biocidal products in the EU, while ensuring a high level of protection for man and the environment.
All biocidal products require authorisation before they can be placed on the market; additionally, the active ingredients contained in them, must be approved in advance.
As in the previous directive, the approval of the active substances occurs at the level of the Union, and the subsequent authorisation of the biocidal products at the level of the member States. Such authorisation may be extended to other member States through the mutual recognition. However, the new regulation provides applicants with the opportunity to get a new type of authorization at the level of the Union (a Union authorisation).