(1)

Glutaraldehyde was approved as an active substance for use in biocidal products of product-types 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 and 12 by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1759 (2) subject to the conditions set out in the Annex to that Regulation.

(2)

The approval of glutaraldehyde for use in biocidal products of product-types 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 and 12 (‘the approval’) is to expire on 30 September 2026. On 25 and 26 March 2025, applications were submitted in accordance with Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 for the renewal of the approval of glutaraldehyde for use in biocidal products of product-types 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 and 12 (‘the applications’).

(3)

On 1 July 2025, the evaluating competent authority of Finland informed the Commission that it had decided, pursuant to Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, that a full evaluation of the applications was necessary. Pursuant to Article 8(1) of that Regulation, the evaluating competent authority is to perform a full evaluation of the application within 365 days of its validation.

(4)

The evaluating competent authority may, as appropriate, require the applicant to provide sufficient data to carry out the evaluation, in accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. In that event, the 365-day period is suspended for a period that may not exceed 180 days in total unless a longer suspension is justified by the nature of the data requested or by exceptional circumstances.

(5)

Within 270 days of receipt of a recommendation from the evaluating competent authority, the European Chemicals Agency (‘the Agency’) is to prepare and submit to the Commission an opinion on renewal of the approval of the active substance in accordance with Article 14(3) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.

(6)

On 20 February 2026, the evaluating competent authority informed the Commission that the evaluation is delayed. That delay is linked to the assessment of data related with the (eco)toxicological properties of glutaraldehyde. The evaluating competent authority expects to submit the renewal assessment report to the Agency in the third quarter of 2027.

(7)

Consequently, for reasons beyond the control of the applicants, the approval is likely to expire before a decision has been taken on its renewal. It is therefore appropriate to postpone the expiry date of the approval for a period of time sufficient to enable the examination of the applications. Taking into account the expected finalisation of the evaluation by the evaluating competent authority, the time-limit for preparation and submission by the Agency of its opinions and the time needed for the Commission to decide whether to renew the approval of glutaraldehyde for use in biocidal products of product-types 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 and 12, the expiry date should be postponed to 31 March 2029.

(8)

After the postponement of the expiry date of the approval, glutaraldehyde remains approved for use in biocidal products of product-types 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 and 12 subject to the conditions set out in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1759,