What is the European Biocidal Products Directive?
The European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) has been put into place to control the use of biocides in the EU. Insect repellents fall under this directive and as such, Citrefine International Limited has notified the active ingredient Citriodiol® with the Consumer Products Safety & Quality (CPS&Q) Unit, formerly known as European Chemicals Bureau (ECB). This is part of the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP), which is one of the seven scientific institutes in the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The submission to the CPS&Q will be handled by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) who are the ‘Competent Authority’ in the UK. The directive will limit the use of active ingredients in repellents to those which are registered. These will be the ones that meet the requirements of the directive for effectiveness, consumer health, and environmental safety. Only 4 repellent active ingredients have been notified to the CPS&Q of which Citriodiol® is the only one naturally derived.
Useful websites on this matter:
http://ecb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biocides/revision.htm
The use of other substances such as neem oil, citronella oil and tea tree oil will not be allowed in future as they have not been notified under the BPD. These products have already been banned for use in products making repellency claims.
USA
In the United States, Citriodiol® is more commonly known as Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or OLE. It was first registered with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2000. Since then, it has been sold nationwide in a 30% and 40% formula and new trials are currently planned for a 20% formula. Citriodiol® is the only natural repellent whose efficacy against the mosquitoes that carry West Nile disease and ticks that carry Lyme disease, is recognised by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
A useful website on this matter:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.html
