Under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012 (EU BPR), the re-evaluation of the active substance propiconazole (EC No.: 262-104-4, CAS No.: 60207-90-1) as a wood preservative has finally been approved, and the official re-evaluation approval document is about to be released.
The re-evaluation of propiconazole’s use as a wood preservative product has been full of ups and downs. Let’s take a look at the entire process.
The use of propiconazole in the EU as a PT8 wood preservative was officially approved on April 1, 2010. During the re-evaluation process, its approval period was finally extended to December 31, 2023.
The applicant (mainly LANXESS) submitted an application for substance re-evaluation within the time prescribed by regulations on October 1, 2018, with Finland as the main country for re-evaluation.
The main assessor country submitted a re-evaluation report of the substance to ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, on June 2, 2021.
ECHA adopted the evaluation opinion of the Biocides Committee BPC on March 9, 2022: The BPC recommended not to approve the re-evaluation of this use of this substance. Mainly because of the following two points: this substance belongs to Category 1B reproductive toxic substances; this substance is considered to have endocrine disrupting properties.
The European Commission EC held a public consultation
During this period, the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency and various member states are also constantly communicating and exchanging information on this substance. Various member states also believe that propiconazole plays a decisive role in wood preservation.
Through public comments, the following main conclusions were drawn:
1. Although tebuconazole may serve as an alternative to propiconazole, propiconazole is significantly more effective than tebuconazole in the temporary treatment of wood fungi. And tebuconazole itself is also classified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant.
2. Taking into account various factors such as the durability of the drug effect and water solubility, propiconazole has obvious advantages over other active substances in the treatment of wood buildings and wood with load-bearing structures. For example, copper, quaternary ammonium salts, boron compounds, etc.
3. In the field of professional joinery, such as windows, doors, roofs, etc., fungicide products containing OIT or DCOIT cannot be used as a substitute for propiconazole in the short term.
4. Other methods of treating wood are immature or costly, and are not in line with sustainable development goals.
5. Materials that can replace wood, such as steel, plastics, aluminum, concrete, etc., may not be technically feasible or sustainable in specific areas.
6. The negative impact on society of not approving this substance is greater than the risk to human health of the active substance.
7. In view of the risks this substance poses to human health, it is recommended that corresponding risk mitigation measures be taken, such as wearing personal protective equipment and limiting direct exposure of humans, animals and the environment to propiconazole as much as possible.
8. Based on the existing application data for authorized propiconazole wood preservative products, it has not been concluded that the active substances themselves or their residues in the products have unexplainable effects on human health and the environment.
In summary, the importance of propiconazole in the field of wood preservatives is irreplaceable and indispensable. Therefore, the EC finally made a decision to review the approval of propiconazole and stipulated and restricted the use conditions of propiconazole in terms of possible human and animal health and environmental fields. At the same time, given that propiconazole is within the scope of alternative candidate substances, the validity period for re-evaluation and renewal will not exceed 7 years.
Furthermore, in order to ensure a high degree of safety for human health and taking into account that it is currently impossible to draw firm conclusions on the risks posed by endocrine-disrupting properties, the EC also decided that wood treated with propiconazole should not be used for the production of furniture and recreational equipment. The EU will announce the official approval document in the near future, which is expected to be at the end of November. Let us stay tuned!
Source: AgroPages
