The Coordination Group (CG) is a body formed by representatives of Member State competent authorities (MSCAs) and the European Commission. Established under Article 35(1) of the BPR, the CG mainly solves disagreements in relation to mutual recognitions of national product authorisations and simplified notifications procedures. ECHA provides the secretariat for the CG.

If a concerned MSCA does not agree on the conclusions of the assessment report and/or on the summary of the biocidal product characteristics in relation to the conditions of Article 19 or 25 of the BPR, the case will be referred to the CG. 

The CG has 60 days to reach an agreement, and if it cannot be reached by consensus in this time, the matter is referred to the Commission by the reference MSCA in accordance with Article 36(1) of the BPR. The Commission may then ask ECHA for an opinion on the scientific or technical aspects of the case.
 

Composition

The CG has one representative from each Member State. They may also appoint an alternate member. They are called CG members.

The CG appoints its own Chair from its members. The Chair may also be supported by a Vice-Chair, elected by the CG members. The term of office of the Chair and Vice-Chair is 1.5 years and can be renewed once. The current Chair is Dr Karolina Pastuszko (PL) and the Vice-Chair is Ms Claire Wallaert (FR).

Other participants in the work of the CG include:

• ECHA CG Secretariat
• Invited Member State experts
• European Commission
• Accredited stakeholder organisations (ASOs)
• Observers from candidate countries
• Other observers

Meetings

There are two types of CG meetings:

• Regular CG meetings: organised usually five times a year. These meetings can be held virtually, when appropriate.
• Additional CG meetings: organised if necessary to manage workload or keep the legal timelines for reaching an agreement in relation to disagreements. These meetings are normally ad hoc and held virtually. 

Provisional dates for regular CG meetings in 2023 are:

• CG-56: 25-27/04/2023
• CG-57: 26-27/06/2023
• CG-58: 19-21/09/2023
• CG-59: 21-23/11/2023

Draft agendas for regular meetings are published in the public CIRCABC interest group `Biocides Coordination Group (CG) - Public’, at the latest, 21 days before the meeting. Generally, draft agendas for additional meetings are published in the CIRCABC interest group `Biocides Coordination Group (CG)’, at the latest, seven days before the meeting. 

Participation of applicants

Applicants of a national or simplified biocidal product or product family authorisation can participate in CG meetings for their specific agenda items of disagreements (referrals) relating to their applications. Invitations are sent to the applicants for their agenda items and if they wish to participate, they need to submit a Declaration of confidentiality and Acceptance notice of Code of Conduct form from their personal professional email address (no functional mailboxes) to CG Secretariat (biocides-coordination-group (at) echa.europa.eu).

Generally, Accredited Stakeholder Organisations (ASOs) and their representatives would not be allowed to participate in discussions of referrals of the CG. However, applicants may explicitly request their attendance for their agenda item, at the latest, seven calendar days before a meeting. The Chair and the CG members need to consent to their participation in line with the Rules of Procedure for the CG under the BPR.

Participation of ASOs

Any accredited stakeholder organisation (ASO) can express their interest in the activities of the CG by indicating CG under point “Other” of the stakeholder application form. 
The Chair and CG members need to consent to the presence of any new ASO in the meetings, in line with the Rules of Procedure for the CG under the BPR.
Representatives of ASOs who have expressed their interest in the CG and have the consent of the Chair and CG members, are invited to take part in the open sessions of regular CG meetings. At these meetings, ASOs can express their views regarding the agenda items of the open session and discuss them with other participants.

Participation of other observers

Other observers may be admitted to the meetings. In case of representatives of any member of an ASO, the request to participate in a meeting needs to be made by the ASO to which the entity belongs. As part of such a request, a justification should be submitted. Requests should be made, at the latest, seven calendar days before a meeting.

In all cases the Chair and other members of the CG need to consent to the participation at the meeting following the Rules of Procedure for the CG under the BPR.

Responsibilites

The CG is responsible for:

1. Using best endeavours to solve disagreements arising from mutual recognition:
   • in accordance with Article 35 of the BPR (including applications subject to Article 91 of the BPR);
   • disagreements on conclusions of assessment reports or, where relevant, on the revised summary of biocidal product characteristics, in line with Article 10 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2013 on changes of biocidal products authorised in accordance with the BPR; and
   • disagreements on conclusions of the assessment report or, where relevant, on the revised summary of the biocidal product characteristics, in line with Regulation (EU) No 492/2014 on the renewal of authorisations subject to mutual recognition in accordance with the BPR.
2. Using best endeavours to solve disagreements arising from:
   • the making available on the market of biocidal products authorised in accordance with the simplified authorisation procedure and in line with Article 27(2) of the BPR;
   • the cancellation or amendment of authorisations issued under mutual recognition in accordance with Article 48(3) of the BPR.
3. Discussing technical and procedural issues in relation to product authorisation to avoid future disagreements.
4. Possible consideration of secondary legislation if time allows. However, this needs to be requested by a CG member and agreed to by the Chair.

The CG shall not deal with derogations from mutual recognition in accordance with Article 37 of the BPR and shall not duplicate the work of the Commission, the Biocides Competent Authorities Meeting or ECHA in the field of biocides.