Following the endorsement by Member States, on 4 July, of the scientific criteria to identify endocrine disruptorsin the field of pesticides or plant protection products (see press release and fact sheet), the European Commission adopted today the scientific criteria for biocides.
This will allow to fully align the criteria in both legislations, as the objective is to have the same criteria applicable in both sectors. The adopted text will be sent to the Parliament and the Council for a scrutiny period of two-months. As for the criteria for pesticides, the criteria adopted today also specify that the identification of an endocrine disruptor should be carried out by taking into account all relevant scientific evidence including animal, in-vitro or in-silico studies, and by using a 'weight of evidence'-based approach.
It is important to note that the criteria in the area of pesticides and biocides will apply also to substances for which assessment or re-evaluations are already ongoing. For more information see here.
