ARCHE Consulting hosted an in-person event to discuss the future, opportunities and challenges related to the Biocides Product Regulation.
Navigating the Future of Biocides: Insights from the 14th BPR Symposium
Navigating the Future of Biocides:
Insights from the 14th BPR Symposium
Over 60 attendees convened at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel for the 14th annual ARCHE Consulting BPR Symposium. We were delighted to welcome industry partners, legal experts, laboratories, and consultancies for an engaging discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the biocides industry.
The European Green Deal sets out the European Union’s ambition to achieve climate neutrality while ensuring a high level of environmental and human health protection. At the same time, EU policymakers increasingly recognize the need to balance these ambitions with economic competitiveness. In response, there is a growing focus on simplifying regulatory frameworks and reducing administrative burdens to make it easier for companies to operate and innovate within the EU. This balance was the focus of this BPR Symposium.
This 14th BPR Symposium’s programme included presentations showcasing internal market barriers and procedural difficulties/cascading regulatory effects but equally potential health issues which must be addressed. On the other hand, it provided suggestions how to boost innovation or improve functioning of the BPR.
The symposium featured a diverse range of expert-led sessions. The day began with ‘Regulatory Updates,’ chaired by Koen Van Maldegem (Fieldfisher Belgium). This session explored key topics, including the recommendations of the Belgian anti-poison centre on how to communicate hazards to customers, the Belgian authorities explained consequently which labelling changes are expected in Belgium, including the implementation of new hazard classes. Moreover, Ctgb explained their view on ongoing efforts to harmonise the work of authorities and strengthen mutual recognition under the BPR. Biocides for Europe provided a status update on the BPR refit/evaluation while Fieldfisher focussed on key classification issues and the latest updates on ethanol.
The ‘Practical experiences’ session, moderated by Frederik Verdonck (ARCHE Consulting), provided in-depth presentations on ARCHE Consulting’s experience regarding the advantages and challenges related to Annex I and simplified product dossiers. Axcentive provided an applicant’s perspective on the BPR review program. Solvay explained their strategy on handling classification changes under the BPR. Charles River and ARCHE Consulting explained the expected challenges for active substance manufacturers and formulators associated with the new drinking water transformation products guidance.
Esteemed speakers included Athénaïs Brouwers (Belgian Anti-Poison Centre) and Steven Fauconnier (FOD), Cindy Van der Meer (Ctgb), Boris Van Berlo (Biocides for Europe), Maud Grunchard (Fieldfisher), Stijn Van Hees (ARCHE Consulting), Genya Andriamampita (Axcentive), Albert Berends (Solvay), An Vandenbosch (ARCHE Consulting) and PamelaMore (Charles River). Each speaker contributed valuable insights, fostering dynamic discussions and interactive exchanges with the audience.
The event underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing regulatory shifts and industry challenges. We look forward to continuing these vital conversations in the future!
The 14th BPR Symposium provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to connect and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the biocides industry. As the sector navigates an increasingly complex and evolving regulatory landscape, the event fostered collaboration and strategic discussions, laying the groundwork for continued progress.
This event was made possible thanks to the efforts of the ARCHE Consulting team and the support of our sponsors Fieldfisher Belgium and HygCen.
