Pesticides 2011 - Pesticide Control Service - Department of Agriculture

Information on Biocidal Products
Explanatory note:
The Regulatory system for biocides was established following the introduction of Council
Directive 98/8/EC to control the placing on the market and use of biocidal products in the
European Union. The objective of the Directive is to ensure that all biocidal products will
be rigorously evaluated prior to being offered for sale to ensure that when used they are
safe for man, animals and the environment.
A biocide is defined as any “active substances and preparations containing one or more
active substances, put up in the form in which they are supplied to the user, intended to
destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise exert a controlling effect
on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means.”
Implementation of the legislation.
The Pesticide Control Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was
designated, in July 2001, as the competent authority for the implementation of the
legislation. Directive 98/8/EC has been transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument
S.I. No. 625 of 2001 - European Communities (Authorization, Placing on the Market, Use
and Control of Biocidal Products) Regulations, 2001.
A programme to identify all biocidal products being placed on the market in Ireland has
been put in place as a first step in implementing this legislation. This programme involved
the ‘Notification’ of basic information on biocidal products to the Pesticide Registration &
Control Division (PRCD). This allows the PRCD to compile all the technical information
necessary to identify biocidal products being placed on the market in Ireland. This
‘Notification’ process is now nearing completion and a register of products notified for
marketing and use in Ireland is being compiled.
Information submitted to the PRCD as part of the notification process should be addressed
to the
Regulatory and Enforcement Unit,
Pesticide Registration & Control Division,
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
Backweston Laboratory Campus,
Young’s Cross,
Celbridge,
Co. Kildare.
Queries concerning the legislation and its implementation may be addressed to the
Regulatory and Enforcement Unit of the Pesticide Registration & Control Division.
Phone: 00-353-1-615 7552
Fax: 00-353-1-615 7575.
E-mail: pcs@agriculture.gov.ie
Website:
www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie
It is the responsibility of any company that markets a biocidal product to ensure that
all of the data required as part of the notification process is submitted to the Pesticide
Registration & Control Division, either by themselves or by an another company
acting on their behalf.
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