The following combination of precursors to generate Active Bromine for use as a biocide will be phased off the market in GB

 

Industry has had the opportunity to support biocidal active substances – including those generated in-situ – for a safety and efficacy review for the relevant product types. The GB BPR groups biocidal products into 22 product types dependent on their use.  

 

For a number of combinations of precursors used to generate Active Bromine, industry decided to withdraw their support for the necessary reviews. 

 

An opportunity was provided for any person, company or task force/consortium to take over support for the biocidal active substance/product type combinations in the GB BPR Review Programme. However, HSE did not receive any compliant notifications from industry to continue their support for: 

  • ​​Active bromine generated from bromine chloride​ in product type ​11​ 
  • ​​Active bromine generated from hypobromous acid and urea and bromourea​ in product types ​11 and 12​ 
  • ​​Active bromine generated from sodium bromide and calcium hypochlorite​ in product type ​2​ 
  • ​​Active bromine generated from sodium bromide and chlorine​ in product type ​2​ 
  • ​​Active bromine generated from sodium bromide and sodium hypochlorite​ in product type ​2​ 
  • ​​Active bromine generated from sodium bromide by electrolysis​ in product type ​2​ 
  • ​​Active bromine generated from sodium hypobromite and N-bromosulfamate and sulfamic acid​ in product type ​11​  

In cases where active substance/product type combinations are not supported, GB BPR requires that these active substance/product type combinations are subject to a GB non-approval decision.  

 

When an active substance receives a non-approval decision, biocidal products containing these active substances in the relevant product types will have to be removed from the GB market, and biocidal use of the in-situ generated active substance will have to end. HSE will provide separate updates on the decision and relevant phase-out periods. 

 

After the relevant phase out period these biocidal products will not be able to be supplied or used in GB. 

 

Important: If you are aware of any disproportionate negative effects that are likely to arise as a result of the Active Bromine generation methods and uses listed above being removed from the GB market, please contact us by 8 March 2024.

 

There are other precursor combinations that can still be used to generate Active Bromine. For more information please see our BPR list of active substances