Replacing hazardous substances in biocidal products

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute driving the innovation of public authorities and industrial operators confronted with the Biocidal products regulation (EC) No 528/2012, within the 'safe and sustainable by design' framework. The outcomes should support the goals of the Commission communication on: Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU, of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, of the Strategy for European Life Sciences and of the new EU bioeconomy strategy.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• innovation in bio-based and natural substances brings safer alternatives to hazardous substances contained in biocidal products, with decreased risk on human health and biodiversity, including pollinators;
• safe, sustainable and effective solutions are developed and tested for the control of harmful organisms affecting human or animal health​ or the environment.

Scope:

Despite being needed for the control of pests or harmful organisms, some of the biocidal active substances currently approved are problematic for human or animal health or the environment. More innovation to bring safer alternatives into the market is therefore essential, allowing for further restriction or ban to the use of the most hazardous biocidal active substances.

Proposals should:

• develop innovative and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD^[1]) bio-based substances to effectively replace hazardous active substances used in biocidal products covered by Biocidal products regulation^[2] and, specifically, at least in one of the following applications as listed below:
  • hazardous active substances used in wood preservatives biocidal products. Developed solutions/substances should aim to limit the development of resistance or cross-resistance to harmful organisms, such as Aspergillus species, and in particular Aspergillus fumigatus;
  • hazardous active substances used in insecticides biocidal products to control mosquitos. Developed solutions/substances should be sufficiently effective to control larvae or adults of mosquitoes responsible for diseases transmitted to humans or animals;
  • the developed substances can include active substances derived from plants, microbes and other natural sources, and bio-based substances;
• include a review at international level of the hazardous active substances in the scope (wood preservatives and insecticides to control mosquitos);
• test the solutions/substances developed and assess their safety for human health, terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, including pollinators;
• validate their contribution to biodiversity enhancement, when applicable;
• demonstrate their effectiveness in replacing the hazardous substances through scientific validated indicators, including their integration into final products, also in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Projects should include social sciences and humanities (SSH) in testing the safety of the developed substances on humans, especially including the analysis of groups in vulnerable situations, and the diversity in terms of sex, disability, age, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender, etc.

International cooperation is encouraged, for the review of substances in scope.

Participation of SMEs in the consortium is encouraged.

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[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022H2510. The SSbD framework is to be used to guide the innovation process towards safer and more sustainable chemicals and advanced materials. The application of the SSbD framework should be evidenced/visible through the decisions and changes made throughout the innovation process, demonstrating how safety and sustainability considerations influenced choices from design to final outcomes.

[2] EUR-Lex - 02012R0528-20240611 - EN - EUR-Lex