Hospital and laboratory disinfectants given EU reprieve
Hospital and laboratory disinfectants that could have been banned within the European Union from 15 May 2010 are now likely to have a stay of execution for another four years.
An agreement between the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers will allow until May 2014 for the active substances in biocidal products to be assessed for safety.
Under the 1998 biocides directive, member states had until May 2010 to check whether these products, including cleaning products and disinfectants, were safe ahead of the European Commission authorising an approved list. But according to a parliamentary communiqué, “it now appears that [this time] will not be enough” to make these assessments.
Without their conclusions, the Commission would have to ban many disinfectants under the existing legislation, but MEPs and ministers have now agreed that national laws – which permit their use – can continue in force until May 2014, with a possible further two-year extension if necessary.