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Biocidal Product Directive - Current Status
Objectives of the Biocidal Products Directive (98/8/EC)
The Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) entered into force in the European Union on 14th May 2000. The Directive aims to provide a harmonized single regulatory framework for placing biocidal products on the market in the European Union (EU). Its objective is to ensure a high level of human and environmental protection while safeguarding the EU market competitiveness.
BPD gives a formal definition to biocidal products: ‘Active substances and preparations containing one or more active substances put up in the form in which they are supplied to the user, intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means.’
23 different types of biocidal products come into the scope of BPD, including among others disinfectants.
Mechanism of the Biocidal Products Directive
The BPD uses a two-stage regime consisting of evaluation of biocidal active substances and biocidal products.
Active substances undergo an evaluation and approval program on European Community level before being included into Annex I of the Directive for the use in certain in certain product types.
Thus, Annex I provides a positive list of substances approved for use in biocidal products.
After Annex I inclusion of the active substance biocide products containing this substance will need to be authorized under the BPD to get a marketing approval.
For a product to be authorized for marketing it must prove that it is sufficiently effective against harmful organisms, imposes no unacceptable effects on human health and on the environment.
Once the product is approved by the national authority of the first member state, it should be authorized by national authorities of the other member states in a procedure of mutual recognition.
Current status with regard to BPD
At the moment active substance dossiers are reviewed by the European Commission for approval and inclusion of the active substances into Annex I of the directive.
After inclusion of an active substance into Annex I, it is possible to submit a dossier for a biocidal product containing this substance to apply for the authorization in the European countries.
During the transition period to gain the authorization under BPD, biocide products already marketed in the countries remain on the market.
ECOLAB biocidal products under BPD
Ecolab harmonized the European biocide product portfolio and will support these biocide products under the BPD.
These biocide products are placed on the market in the European Union complying with the local biocide legislation and will be continued in compliance with BPD in the future.
REACH
The Regulation (EC/1907/2006), REACH, came into force on 1st June 2007 to simplify the vast array of legislation covering the use of chemical substances in the EU.
These regulations are far-reaching and will be phased in over the next ten years. At Ecolab we are very active, taking all the necessary steps in good time to ensure our products meet all the requirements. Ecolab customer can feel secure we are ontop of this issue and we will keep everyone informed in a timely manner of any important information. For more information please review the REACH Cleaner, Safer, Healthier document, downloadable here.
Enhancements to EcoChexx Net
Ecolab announces a number of enhancements to EcoChexx Net, its unique Hygiene Management Software. These new enhancements provide greater flexibility within the system, based on feedback from existing users.
EcoChexx Hygiene Module - Summary of New Features
Task Sign Off: The hygiene “Sign Off” screen now offers more flexibility. Users are able to select multiple tasks regardless of their status (overdue, due today or future) and sign them off as Acceptable, Unacceptable or Not Completed. Re-cleans can also now be created for multiple tasks.
Inspection: The Hygiene Task Manager screen now incorporates an “Inspection” button which allows an inspection to be completed on all plant items that have been cleaned prior to the final sign off. The inspections can be completed by any user who is granted access to the Hygiene Module.
On selecting “Inspection” the following screen appears allowing tasks to be allocated Acceptable, Unacceptable or Not Completed status. These tasks can be selected on a multiple basis to save time and re-cleans can be created direct from the unacceptable or not completed screens.
Tasks that have been given “Acceptable” inspection status will appear in the Hygiene Task Manager as pale blue providing the hygiene teams with a clear visual indication that they have achieved the required standard.
Inspection Reports: The “Cleaning Summary” report has been upgraded to identify which items have been inspected and provide management summaries in percentage values. Tasks that have been inspected are identified by having blue text in the status column and an additional value has been added to the summary graph showing the percentage of tasks inspected versus the total scheduled for cleaning.
A new “Inspection Summary” report has also been created providing more specific details on all inspected items and any re-cleans created.
EcoChexx Monitoring & Control - Summary of New Features
Multiple Selections for Questions: In question based audits we have added a multiple select option for the responses to questions. This will benefit users that have audits with large numbers of questions as they can select a response for the majority and adjust the minority of questions as required.
Enlarged Question Fields: The question field has been enlarged to display the whole question removing the need to scroll and also facilitate the use of tablet PC’s.
Creating Hygiene Tasks from within Audits: In the past it has not been possible to create a task from within an audit that appeared in the Hygiene Module. This has now been updated and Hygiene tasks can be created from any module within the EcoChexx system where it is possible to create a task. To achieve this, simply select the “Hygiene - Global” task type when creating a task and the task will appear in the Hygiene Task Manager.
Multiple Defect Answers: It is now possible to select multiple defect answers for each question when creating an audit. This provides greater flexibility in capturing responses to questions.
For a complete overview of EcoChexx Net, please visit the website at www.ecochexx.com.
New product range to sweeten the chocolate industry
At Ecolab we are pleased to introduce products specifically aimed at chocolate mould washing.
Chocolate mould washing is a highly specialist area, it is critical to achieve a clean and dry mould in order to ensure the product is released from the mould without imperfections which can lead to customer dissatisfaction. In addition, the washing process and detergents must not lead to deterioration of the mould or stress cracking, as this can lead to higher cost in mould replacement, or worse, hard plastic contamination of the product.
Ecolab have introduced Aquanta PC, a specialist mould washing detergent and Aquanta RI, a specialist rinse aid. When used in combination with the Aquanta Controller, you can not only be assured of safe and clean moulds, you can also take control of your detergent, water and effluent costs.