Preservatives are important for extending the useful life of products such as paints, varnishes and printing inks that are water-based. Without them, paints and varnishes would deteriorate more quickly and, as a result, more products would have to be disposed of and repainted more frequently. This, he said, is in direct contradiction to the EU's green and circular economy goals.
CEPE (European Paint Industry Association) and VdL are therefore calling on regulators to amend the requirements of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). As a first step, pre-determinations at the level of active ingredient approval should be avoided and instead a risk assessment should take place at the product approval stage. Overall, this should lead to a more holistic approach to impact assessment, contribute to a better decision-making process and avoid de facto bans.