As from February 2014 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is due to provide a new service which will give industry the opportunity to compare two or more sources of biocidal active substances.
It is understood that this ''similarity service check'' resembles ECHA's technical equivalence assessment which is described in the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). However, what is really unique about the new service is that, unlike the assessment under the BPR which is applicable to active substances on a general basis, it only applies where there is no final decision on the approval of the active substance. In essence, the check takes into account the substance's identity and chemical composition and can be used to:
- Compare two or more sources of the same active substance. This is particularly important with regards to a prospective joint application for active substance approval under the BPR; and
- Compare only one source of an active substance to a biocidal active substance for which no final decision on its approval has been adopted as of yet.
The new platform will be available on ECHA's website in February 2014, and users will have to pay a fee based on the scope of the assessment requested.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
