Limitation of biocides (antimicrobial substances)
Level: Core
Products that are treated with biocides (antimicrobial function) contain substances that can be dangerous or toxic to humans and the environment and can accelerate the development of resistance in bacteria.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10036:1
- Group:
- Washing machines
Criterion text
Household appliances may not be treated with biocides1.
1Definition according to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products
Verification
Together with its tender, the supplier must include a supplier's declaration that the product has not been treated with biocides in accordance with Regulation (EU) 528/2012. The declaration must be signed by an authorised representative of the supplier. Upon request from the contracting organisation, it must be possible to verify these details, such as with the help of technical documentation or equivalent from the supplier.
Proposed follow-up
Spot check the supplied products and see whether they have a label that declares treatment with biocidal products. Examples of what such a label may look like can be found in the Swedish Chemicals Agency's fact sheet called "Articles treated with biocides"1. If such a label exists, the product fails to meet the requirements.
1 https://www.kemi.se/global/faktablad/facts-articles-treated-with-biocides2.pdf
Information about the criterion
A product that is marketed as having been treated with biocides must be labelled as such, according to the Biocides Regulation. Information must be provided even if the supplier does not market the product as having been treated with biocides, according to Article 58 of the Biocides Regulation.
Environmental goals
Motive
A biocidal treated article is an article that is treated with a type of pesticide, called a biocidal product. The aim of the treatment is to give the article a function, for example to make sportswear odourless or a cutting board antibacterial. Other examples of articles that may be treated with biocidal products are building materials, boats painted with antifouling paint, impregnated wood, shoes, mattresses, cleaning supplies, and household appliances.
Articles that are treated with biocidal products contain substances that can be dangerous or toxic to humans and the environment and they can accelerate the development of resistant bacteria.
More information on rules for biocidal treated products can be found on the Swedish Chemicals Agency's website.
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10036:1
- Version date
- 2020-06-17
2020-06-17, Requirement ID 10036: 1: The requirement extended to include all biocides.
2012-01-31, Requirement ID 10036 Original version