Introduction, Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Inventory of biocides used in Denmark

1. Introduction

In the present report the outcome of phase 1 of the project 'Description of use of biocidal products in Denmark' is presented.

The aim of phase 1 of the project is to establish a comprehensive view of the use of biocides and biocidal products in Denmark.

In phase II, the potential exposure of man and the environment from the use of biocidal products is estimated for selected applications of biocidal products. The lists of potential exposure routes are not included in the present report, but are part of the phase II report.

The direct cause of the initiation of the project is the adoption of the 'Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council No 98/8/EC of 16 February 1998 on the placing of biocidal products on the market'; in the following designated 'the Biocide Directive'.

The report is structured in accordance with the Biocide Directive with 4 main groups organised into 23 product-types. The four main groups are:

1. Disinfectants and general biocidal products
2. Preservatives
3. Pest control
4. Other biocidal products

Each of the 23 product-types is organised into one or more sub-types each covering a specific application area. The application areas are defined by specific market or exposure conditions. The hierarchic grouping of the biocidal products in 'main groups', 'product-types' and 'sub-types' appears directly from the Table of Contents of the report.

The Biocide Directive only applies to the biocidal products used within specific application areas to the extent these areas are not defined by or within the scope of other EU instruments. The main exceptions are biocides used for food and feed, toys, cosmetics, human hygiene products and medical products. The exceptions are in the present report mentioned for each of the application areas to which they apply.

The year of reference of the assessment is 1998, but for some application areas, the consumption assessments refer to other years, if 1998-data were not available.

The chemical names used in the report refer to the chemical names used in the 'List of biocidal substances' of July 1999 from the European Chemical Bureau.

The project was followed by a steering committee consisting of:

Jørgen Larsen, The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (chair)
Jesper Preuss Justesen, SPT (Trade Organisation for Soap, Perfume and Toiletware)
Hans Jørgen Andresen, Colgate-Palmolive A/S, Representing SPT

Marianne Peirera, J.C. Hempel's Skibsfarvefabrik AS, representing the Danish Paintmakers Association
Per Langholdt, S. Dyrup & Co. AS, representing the Danish Paintmakers Association
Michael Jørgensen, CO-Industri
Poul Erik Andersen, National Working Environment Authority
Sonja Hagen Mikkelsen, COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners AS

The report was prepared by a working group consisting of Carsten Lassen, Sonja Hagen Mikkelsen, Susanne Skaarup and Jesper Kjølholt (COWI); Pia Juul Nielsen (DTC); Dorte Rasmussen and Lise Samsoe-Petersen (DHI Water and Environment).