On August 5, 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched a public consultation to identify alternatives to Zinc Pyrithione, a Candidate for Substitution (CfS). The consultation will close on October 4, 2024. Further details are available in the table below.
| Substance name | EC Num | CAS Num | Product type(PT) | Consultation start date | Consultation end date |
| Pyrithione zinc (Zinc pyrithione) | 236-671-3 | 13463-41-7 |
PT6 PT7 PT9 PT21 |
05/08/2024 | 04/10/2024 |
Substitution and Approval Process for Active Substances under the BPR
Under the European Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), substances that meet substitution criteria are listed as Candidates for Substitution (CfS) by ECHA, signaling potential replacement by safer alternatives. These substances undergo strict approval processes and are subject to eventual phase-out. ECHA engages in public consultations to assess alternatives before recommending approvals or renewals to the European Commission.
The BPR prohibits the authorization of substances identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductive toxicants, endocrine disruptors, or as persistent and bioaccumulative (PBT/vPvB), unless they are used in controlled environments, significantly reduce risks, or are indispensable for managing critical health or environmental threats with no alternatives.
For such exceptions, the approval conditions are stringent, generally limiting authorization to five years with strict usage restrictions. Member States must ensure all conditions are met before approving these biocidal products for use.
