Recently, the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) announced that starting from January 2026, the assessment of plant protection products (pesticides) and biocides regarding drinking water standards will officially utilize surface water monitoring data from 2020 to 2024.

The Spanish government has recently published a Draft Royal Decree on the registration, manufacture, marketing, and use of biocides, aiming to repeal outdated national rules and fully align with the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012).

Bidding farewell to the unconventional fluctuations of special periods, the US disinfection and antimicrobial market has entered a new stage of normalized development characterized by specialization and diversified demand.

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.

Recently, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a decision in accordance with Article 89(5) of the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), formally announcing the non-approval of a series of active substance and Product Type (PT) combinations. This decision covers multiple biocidal/insecticidal substances widely used in the market, and will enter into force on April 1, 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.

On December 16, 2025, the European Commission proposed an amendment to the Biocidal Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 528/2012) to extend the data protection period for existing active substances under review until December 31, 2030. This proposal aims to address delays in the review programme for biocidal active substances while balancing the interests of data owners and other market participants.

Recently, the European Commission officially launched a comprehensive evaluation of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 on biocidal products (BPR). According to the latest announcement, the Commission opened the public consultation and Call for Evidence on its official "Have Your Say" portal on 11 December 2025.

As part of the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR), active substance approvals must be renewed before their expiry date to continue being used in biocidal products. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) mandates that renewal applications be submitted at least 550 days before the expiry date. To avoid disruptions and ensure continued market access in Northern Ireland (NI), it is crucial to meet these upcoming deadlines.