12/21/2018

Reduction of the use of biocides – evaluation of alternatives to biocide application

German Federal Environment Agency, FKZ 3714 67 403 0, project duration 1/2015 – 10/2018

Sponsor:

German Federal Environment Agency (FKZ 3714 67 403 0)

Realisation:

Hydrotox GmbH, Stefan Gartiser (project management)

Büro für Umweltmedizin Erik Petersen

Pesticide Action Network Germany e.V., Susanne Smolka

Project duration:

2015 -2018

Summary:

The German Chemicals law (§ 12e) requires that the Federal Bureau of Chemicals should inform the public about the benefits and risks of the use of biocidal products. In addition, information should be provided about physical, biological, chemical or other measures as an alternative to biocide uses or to minimise the use of biocidal products in order to ensure the competent, correct and sustainable use of biocidal products. To this end, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) operates an internet platform (www.biozid.info) since July 2010. The already posted information must regularly be up-dated and adjusted according to the respective scientific and technical state of knowledge. In addition, the information provided should be expanded gradually.

For high-risk biocides suitable biocide-free alternatives should be considered in the context of comparative assessment in accordance with the EU Biocidal Products Regulation. Currently, no suitable concepts exist for the evaluation of available biocide-free alternatives in terms of their usefulness and competitiveness in comparison to officially tested and approved biocidal products. Such an evaluation is a precondition for the acceptance and official recommendation for alternatives.

The project aims at supporting further installation of the "UBA biocidal portal" and at developing a concept for the evaluation and recommendation of alternatives to biocide application.

Further Information:

The work is based on the following previous projects:

Information obligations on alternative measures for the minimisation of the use of biocides. UBA FKZ 203 67 448/01 u. 02, duration 04/2004 - 06/2006, UBA-Texte 23/08 

Alternatives for the use of biocides – improvement of the information for the public, UBA FKZ 37 10 67 407, duration 10/2010 - 10/2011

Examination and recommendation of alternatives to biocide application. UBA FKZ 37 11 63 416, duration 10/2011 – 10/2014

Contact person at Hydrotox GmbH
Dr. Stefan Gartiser, E-Mail: gartiser(at)hydrotox.de, Tel: +49-(0)761-45512-24

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