| Posted: Nov 03, 2016 |
ECHA Biocidal Products Committee backs first nanomaterial approval
(Nanowerk News) The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)'s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) backed three approvals, and one non-approval, of active substance/product-type combinations, at its October meeting.
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They include the Committee's first opinion on a nanomaterial. The BPC supported the approval of pyrogenic, synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide for use in insecticides, acaricides and products to control other arthropods (product-type 18).
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The BPC's opinion relied on another nanoform – synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide - already approved under the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD), according to Committee Chair, Erik van de Plassche. He says to compile the opinion the BPC's main task was to find the reference structural characteristics that distinguish one nanoform from another.
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The next time the BPC has a nanomaterial on the agenda it will probably rely on the expected changes to the REACH Regulation's guidance and information provision annexes. These will take account of nanoforms.
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Mr van de Plassche says changes under REACH will steer what kind of information the BPC will need to define the identity of a biocidal active in its nanoform.
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The next nanomaterial on the Committee's agenda is nanosilver, expected to be discussed in a couple of years.
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The BPC's October meeting also backed the approval of:
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dichlofluanid for use in antifouling products (product-type 21); and
silicon dioxide (Kieselguhr) for use in product-type 18).
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And it adopted an opinion for the non-approval of PHMB for use in drinking water disinfectants (product-type five).
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The Committee agreed that the environmental risks of PHMB for this use could not be mitigated, Mr van de Plassche says.
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The meeting also agreed a procedure for renaming an active substance in the review programme. Evaluating member state authorities will have to consult the applicant if they want to establish a new substance identity. They will then submit a proposal for peer review in the BPC working group.
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ECHA says a document outlining the procedure is expected to be made public.
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