CEPE stressed the threat to the availability of preservatives, which are used to extend the useful life of coatings, inks, cleaning products and personal care items.
CEPE has launched a campaign to inform about the threat to the availability of preservatives, which are used to extend the useful life of everyday products such as coatings, inks, cleaning products and personal care items. The industry is increasingly concerned as current EU regulations and review processes are leading to phasing out more preservatives and approving new products in their place.
They are critical for extending the useful life of products such as water-based paints and inks as without them, water allows microorganisms to grow, damaging the coating product in the can or to the finished coated surface. This would lead to increased product waste and the need for more frequent repainting, directly contradicting the EU's green and circular ambitions.
Christel Davidson, CEO of CEPE, said: “The current regulations have created a lengthy and costly system where manufacturers of preservatives rarely bring new substances to the market. In addition, a new review program is leading to a reduction in the number of existing preservatives. The situation is now reaching a breaking point.”
CEPE calls on regulatory authorities to change the requirements of the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR), which governs the authorization and use of preservatives.
“The current regulations are simply not fit for purpose, and we face the very real risk of having no preservatives available for key products like paints, printing inks and artists` colors,” Davidson said. “Reports have already shown the urgent need to revise the Biocidal Products Regulation. We need action now to make sure that manufacturers can continue to supply existing preservatives, so that our members can continue to make properly-preserved paints and inks, while encouraging the innovation and development of new preservatives for the future.”