Introduction

We know as Biocides those active substances and preparations which content one or more active substances, presented in the way in which they are supplied to the user, intended for destroying, countering, neutralizing, preventing the action or exerting the control of some other kind over any harmful organism by chemical or biological means.

These products are regulated by the Guideline 98/8/C Will open in a new window E, of the European Parliament and the Council, of February 16 th, related to biocides merchandising, which harmonizes legislation on this products in the European field, establishing common principles of evaluation and authorization of biocides, avoiding this way economical/administrative barriers.This Guideline, has been transposed to our legal system via the Royal Decree 1054/2002 File pdf. Will open in a new window , of October 11 th, for which the process of biocides evaluation for register, authorization and merchandising is regulated.

With this Royal Decree, 23 Types of Products are controlled. Among them are included disinfectants used in private life and public health fields, insecticides, acaricides, rodenticides, repellents, preservatives, etc.

Until now, on the basis of the existing legislation in Spain on this matter (Royal Decree 3349/1983 and subsequent modifications, Royal Decree 162/1991 and Royal Decree 443/1994), only some kinds of biocide products were registered. However, this legislation will keep on being in force during the provisional period of 10 years which establish the Guideline 98/8/CE (Royal Decree 1054/2002). Throughout this period it has been established a revision procedure of the commercialized active biocides prior to May 2000. This review will be carried out according to the Regulations of the European Commission (Regulation (CE) # 1896/2000 Will open in a new window , Regulation (CE) # 2032/2003 Will open in a new window , Regulation 1048/2005 File pdf. Will open in a new window and Regulation (CE) 1849/2006 Will open in a new window ).