Biocidal products protect materials like plastics, paints, and wood from decay by microbes and insects. However, their use is strictly regulated in the EU through the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012) to ensure safety for humans, animals, and the environment.

This regulation mandates that all biocidal products receive authorization before market entry, with
a prerequisite that their active substances are pre-approved for safety. The BPR harmonizes these rules across the EU, allowing for mutual recognition of authorizations between Member States,
with the new regulation offering a streamlined Union-level authorization for broader market access.