Agrozone Europe BV applies ozone as a biocide for disinfection of both air and water. The European Biocides Regulation (Regulation 2012/58/EU) came into force on September 1, 2013. Since September 1, 2013, ozone is regulated as an "Active Substance" under the Biocidal Products Regulation. Under European legislation, ozone must be recognized as a biocide. Agrozone Europe BV joined the EUOTA consortium for this purpose at an early stage. In EUOTA, European suppliers of ozone applications work together to obtain recognition. The advantage of this is that all companies jointly submit an ozone file to the evaluating authority and that costs can be shared. Companies that are members of the EUOTA organization and are in the process of ozone biocide approval may continue to apply their products.

Much work has already been done. The "Active Substance" dossier for ozone has now been submitted. This dossier contains information regarding the chemical properties, safety, efficacy, etc. of ozone. After approval of the Active Substance ozone, any company wishing to market ozone as a biocide within the EU must have its product applications certified under the Biocidal Products Regulation. The steps that still need to be taken include efficiency and risk assessment of the various ozone biocide applications. Agrozone Europe BV has product applications certified for air, water and surface disinfection.

Because of our extensive experience in the disinfection of irrigation water, Agrozone Europe BV was asked by EUOTA to demonstrate the efficiency of ozone disinfection for irrigation water by conducting field tests. We are currently performing these on installations the company has already installed in horticulture. The data collected will be reported and added to the EUOTA ozone biocide dossier for review by an independent reviewing body. The first results of the field tests are positive, as we already knew from previous rounds of sampling!

The deadline for submission of the complete dossier is July 2024. Ozone equipment for use as a biocide that is not certified by this date may not be used as a biocide in the European Union as of this date. By joining EUOTA and thus jointly certifying biocide products with the external independent evaluating body, we ensure that our customers can continue to purchase and apply these products in disinfection in the future.

More information on the Biocides Regulation can be found on the website of European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Agrozone's EUOTA membership certificate can be found on the EUOTA website.  

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