Do you plan to place biocidal products on the market in Bosnia and Herzegovina? If your answer is yes, this text is for you.
Let's start from the beginning. How can you recognize if your product is a biocide?
A biocidal product is one that, in the form in which it is placed on the market, is intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise control harmful organisms through chemical or biological means.
Two key elements determine a biocidal product:
- The product must contain a substance considered a biocidal active substance (a substance whose activity causes the biocidal action of the product and which is approved for such use) and
- The purpose of the product must be to destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise control harmful organisms.
If one of these two elements is missing, the product is not a biocide.
The active substance carries the biocidal activity of the product and must be present in the product and listed on the label (e.g., ethyl alcohol). Regulations specify which active substances are allowed for use in certain types of biocides.
On the other hand, the product label itself can tell you a lot.
First and foremost, what is the purpose of the product. Statements such as "disinfects," "destroys bacteria," "repels mosquitoes," and similar are clear biocidal claims, that is, statements indicating the biocidal action of the product.
Now you know how to recognize a biocide. Let's now go deeper and look at what you need to be careful about.
If the product does not contain a biocidal active substance, but the label features a claim indicating a biocidal purpose, such a claim can be considered false because it misleads the consumer.
If the product contains a biocidal active substance but the biocidal claim is not stated, the product cannot be considered a biocidal product. However, the omission of the biocidal claim should not aim to avoid fulfilling regulatory obligations prescribed for biocides.
Another thing to pay attention to is the mechanism of action.
According to the definition, a biocide acts on harmful organisms through chemical or biological means. If the mechanism of action of a product is purely physical, the product is not considered a biocide.
A good example is a mousetrap. It aims to destroy a harmful organism but acts purely physically. Additionally, this product does not fulfill one of the two essential elements that make a product a biocide – it does not contain a biocidal active substance, while a biocidal claim is likely found on its packaging.
By now, you already understand what you need to pay attention to when considering including a new product in your sales program. For biocidal products, the content of the label is of crucial importance. Just one word on the label can make a difference.
If you have determined that the product is a biocide, you must fulfill the prescribed obligations.
I also recommend you watch this short video to make it easier for you to recognize a biocide.
If you need help interpreting biocide regulations, I will be happy to assist you. Contact me at nina.pajovic@bens-consulting.eu.
Autor fotografije Towfiqu barbhuiya na Unsplash