What is the BPD?
In 1993, the European Commission proposed a Directive to establish a single European market in biocides by introducing a harmonised authorisation system based on assessment of risks to people and the environment, together with a consideration of efficacy. This became the Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market – commonly known as the ‘Biocidal Products Directive’ (BPD) or simply the ‘biocides directive’. The BPD entered into force on 14 May 2000. The Directive has two central aims: • to harmonise the European market for biocidal products and their active substances so that once a product is authorised in one Member State under the Directive that authorisation can be recognised in the other Member States; • to provide a high level of protection for people, animals and the environment. Each European Union Member State is responsible for implementing the BPD into their national law. In Great Britain the BPD
