BIOCIDES
for instance, the described use and resistance. The results are ranked using the logic described in the Biocidal Product Regulation( BPR).
Benefits for sustainable development
The idea for the OAQ tool was triggered by the combination of regulatory scrutiny and the ESG criteria that are increasingly critical for( return on) investments in specialty chemicals. For new biocidal active substances in development, the regulatory and ESG profile of the new active can be compared with the existing pool of biocidal actives with the right tools.
Such comparisons will help to make investment decisions in new biocidal active innovations. It also provides information that might allow subsidies for the development of the relevant technical data( e. g. physicalchemical properties, efficacy data, safe use requirements) to support development of safer and more sustainable biocidal products.
Downstream users of biocidal products, like for instance companies marketing consumer products that need preservation, can also benefit from using OAQ. The tool returns an objective, science-based ranked overview of potential actives tailored for their products. This can support product developers to select the most sustainable biocidal ingredients for their products and processes.
The technical data has an additional purpose: if the regulatory compliance process is run in parallel with the innovation process, the technical product data can also be used in regulatory compliance dossiers. Product managers, marketing managers and innovation leaders can benefit from a tool like this that provides swift, complete and accurate information at the required level of detail. ●
Analysis of Alternatives
The CLP Regulation states that biocidal active substances“ shall normally be subject to harmonised classification and labelling”. This may trigger that an active becomes a Candidate for Substitution( CfS) under the BPR. An Analysis of Alternatives( AoA) is required for all biocidal actives that are CfS. The various actors in the supply chain all have a different role to play in this assessment.
The European Chemicals Agency( ECHA) prepared guidance as well as an AoA template for the applicant to report on the( lack of) available, suitable alternatives for the active to be substituted( Figure 1). This overview needs to include both chemical and non-chemical alternatives. According to the ECHA guidance, suitable alternatives must fulfill all of the following criteria:
• Safer: Reduced risk( less hazardous and / or less uses covered).
• Feasible: Technically effective & economically viable
Figure 1- Exclusion & substitution criteria
• Available: Sufficient supply chain capacity & complexity, & regulatory-compliant
Gathering this information will take a significant amount of time while the time available for an AoA is limited. To use the time optimally, it is first and foremost important to know all the relevant alternatives at short notice. OAQ serves as a foundation and is instantly available.
Removing the laborious datagathering step will allow supply chain leaders, technical managers and regulatory teams to focus on the most value-adding( detailed) data from internal and external sources to strengthen the regulatory AoA dossier defending their active substance portfolio if no suitable alternative can be identified. Downstream users can use OAQ to provide input in the public consultation to avoid that essential actives become no longer available and to prepare for a possible loss of the active under scrutiny.
Martijn van Velthoven
CO-FOUNDER
References 1: E. A. Chen, International Review of Economics & Finance, 2025, 99, 104056.( https:// doi. org / 10.1016 / j. iref. 2025.104056) 2: ESG Survey 2025, BNP Paribas CIB.( https:// securities. cib. bnpparibas / esg-survey-2025 /)
RULES4BIOCIDES k + 31 6 20356101 J martijn @ rules4biocides. eu j www. rules4biocides. eu
24 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981