(1)

On 1 January 2024, the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom acting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (‘the UK competent authority’) adopted a decision in accordance with Article 55(1), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 to permit until 30 June 2025 the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products Contrac Blox and Roban Oktablok against brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland, specifically in open areas on Rathlin Island, as part of the LIFE Raft project (‘the action’). The UK competent authority informed the Commission and the competent authorities of the other Member States about the action and the justification for it, in accordance with Article 55(1), second subparagraph, of that Regulation.

(2)

According to the information provided by the UK competent authority, the action was necessary in order to protect the environment. Rathlin Island is home to endangered seabirds, small mammals and invertebrates and has been designated a Special Protection Area, under Article 4(1), second paragraph, of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), due to its colonies of guillemots, puffins, shags, eider ducks and other seabirds. Invasive brown rats are believed to have been a major driver behind the significant decline in many of the island’s seabirds. The LIFE Raft project aims to eradicate rats from the island and put steps in place to decrease the likelihood of their return. The biocidal products Contrac Blox and Roban Oktablok are used as part of the LIFE Raft project.

(3)

Contrac Blox and Roban Oktablok contain bromadiolone and difenacoum, respectively, as active substances, and are biocidal products of product-type 14, namely ‘rodenticides’, as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. As of 1 January 2025, the outdoor use on the territory of the United Kingdom, and therefore of Northern Ireland, has been removed from their authorisation. The temporary permit granted by the UK competent authority allows such outdoor use in a controlled manner on Rathlin Island. According to the UK competent authority, second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, such as Contrac Blox and Roban Oktablok, are the most effective biocidal products for the eradication of brown rats on islands that are home to seabird colonies. First-generation anticoagulant rodenticides available on the market and potentially appropriate rodenticides with other modes of action (for instance, cholecalciferol) have proven not to be effective in an eradication context, according to the information provided by the UK competent authority, while the use of mechanical traps could be effective only on very small islands.

(4)

On 15 May 2025, the Commission received a reasoned request from the UK competent authority to allow the extension of the action in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland, in accordance with Article 55(1), third subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The UK competent authority explained that, according to the protocol followed for the eradication project, bait was removed from all bait stations in April 2025. However, field operatives have evidence of lingering rodent activity, meaning that the eradication operation has not been completely successful. A monitoring programme is intended to be carried out in September 2025, followed by laying further baits. An extension of the temporary permit for Contrac Blox and Roban Oktablok is therefore needed for sufficient time to allow the completion of the eradication project, in accordance with Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The Commission analysed the information included in the reasoned request, as outlined above.

(5)

The incomplete eradication of brown rats on Rathlin Island might endanger the seabird colonies on the island and that danger cannot be adequately controlled by using another biocidal product or by other means. It is therefore appropriate to allow the UK competent authority to extend the action in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

(6)

As the action expired on 30 June 2025, this Decision should apply retroactively.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products,