Development of a concept for the environmental risk assessment of biocidal products for authorization purposes (BIOEXPO). Executive summary

The Biocidal Products Directive (Draft 97/C69/03; latest version December 12' 1997, 95/0465 (COD); PE CONS 3633/97) will complete the European chemicals regulation, which consists of the directives on existing substances (Council regu-lation 793/93), new substances (Directive 92/32/EC) and agricultural pesticides (Directive 91/414/EC). Biocides include a wide range of product types, such as pest control products, disinfectants, preservatives, and antifouling products. In Annex V of the Biocidal Products Directive, 23 different product types are de-fined. The Biocidal Products Directive will regulate the authorisation of biocidal substances and products on the European market. It will also harmonise the authorisation schemes for biocidal products, through the use of common princi-ples, with these authorisations being mutually acknowledged in all member states (with certain exceptions). Three Technical Guidance Documents are being pre-pared in 1997-1998 to facilitate the implementation of the Biocidal Products Di-rective