Placing of biocidal products on the market: extension of certain time periods

The European Parliament adopted by 652 votes to 5, with 17 abstentions, a legislative resolution amending, under the codecision procedure, the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market as regards the extension of certain time periods.

The amendments were the result of a compromise negotiated with the Council. The amendments were as follows:

• the extension of the transitional period for four years, instead of three (until 14 May 2014 instead of 14 May 2013) so as to make sure that all biocidal products containing active substances are evaluated in due time creating a market regulated by harmonised rules;
• on the other hand, the limitation to a maximum of two years of the possibility to further extend the deadlines for the remaining dossiers through comitology in order to avoid the possibility to endlessly delay the whole process;
• stressing, in a recital, that, in line with paragraph 34 of the interinstitutional agreement on better law making, Member States are encouraged to draw up, for themselves and in the interest of the Community, their own tables which illustrate, to the extent possible, the conformity between this directive and the transposition measures and to publish them.