Biocides Committee proposes not to approve four silver-containing active substances

The committee adopted five opinions in total, including one on Union authorisation. 

Helsinki, 8 March 2021 - ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) concluded that the assessment of the following active substances does not support their approval for product-type 4 (food and feed area):

• silver zinc zeolite;
• silver zeolite;
• silver copper zeolite; and
• silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate.

For these existing active substances, the committee concluded that the risks are unacceptable for human health when activated carbon water filters with silver-containing active substances are used. People may be exposed through drinking water or food which has been prepared in filtered water. The substances can also be used to treat polymers, such as kitchen utensils like cutting boards. The evaluating competent authority for the applications is Sweden.

The BPC also adopted a positive opinion on an application for Union authorisation of a biocidal product family based on peracetic acid in product-types 2 (disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals), 3 (veterinary hygiene) and 4 (food and feed area). 

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The European Commission together with the EU Member States will take the final decision on the approval of active substances and on the Union authorisation of biocidal product families. 

The committee met on 2-5 March 2021. The opinions will be available on the BPC's web page in the near future. The next meeting will take place in June 2021.