Recently, the Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute) of Italy officially published the National Plan of Official Controls on Biocides for the year 2026 (Piano Nazionale dei Controlli Ufficiali sui Biocidi, hereinafter referred to as PNCB).

Recently, the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have published a series of regulatory updates regarding the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012).

Recently, the European Commission submitted a draft delegated regulation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the amendment of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012). The draft aims to amend the approval conditions for the active substance Carbon Dioxide in Annex I.

Many sellers entering the EU market are already aware of the requirements under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).

Recently, the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued an announcement declaring its support for the approval of Ethanol as an active substance for use in hand and general disinfectants.

Recently, the European Commission submitted a draft Implementing Decision to the World Trade Organization (WTO), proposing the non-approval of Terbutryn, 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), and TMAD as existing active substances for use in specific biocidal product types.

Recently, the European Commission submitted a notification of trade measures to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and published a draft Commission Implementing Decision.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has recently announced the launch of a new online tool named "B-risk" for biocides. This tool allows companies, scientists, and regulators to assess the risks posed by biocides to bees. Its release is designed to support the implementation of ECHA’s Guidance to assess the risks to bees from the use of biocides (published in 2024), which is set to officially enter into force in February 2026.

According to the review programme of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), four active substances used for biocidal preservation—BIT (1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one), Formic acid, DBNPA (2,2-dibromo-2-cyanoacetamide), and MIT (2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one)—are scheduled to receive formal approval between October 2026 and February 2027.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has initiated public consultations regarding the approval and renewal of four biocidal active substances under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). The consultations concern substances identified as Candidates for Substitution (CfS), with several also meeting the exclusion criteria which requires specific derogations for approval.