(1)

On 4 May 2020 the Environment Agency of Luxembourg (the ‘competent authority’) adopted a decision (subsequently amended on 19 June 2020 and 7 October 2020) in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 to permit until 31 October 2020 the making available and use by professional users of the biocidal product BIOBOR JF for the antimicrobial treatment of fuel tanks and fuel systems of parked aircraft (‘the action’). The 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 the second subparagraph of Article 55(1) of that Regulation.

(2)

According to the information provided by the competent authority, the action was necessary in order to protect public health. Microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems can lead to malfunctions of the aircraft engine and endanger its airworthiness, thus endangering the safety of passengers and crew. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing flight restrictions led to numerous aircraft being temporarily parked. The immobility of aircraft is an aggravating factor of microbiological contamination.

(3)

BIOBOR JF contains 2,2'-(1-methyltrimethylenedioxy)bis-(4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane) (CAS number 2665-13-6) and 2,2'-oxybis (4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane) (CAS number 14697-50-8), active substances for use in biocidal products of product-type 6 as preservatives for products during storage as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. As those active substances are not included in the work programme laid down in Annex II to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1062/2014 (2) for the systematic examination of all existing active substances contained in biocidal products referred to in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, they have to be assessed and approved before biocidal products containing them can be authorised at national or Union level.

(4)

On 16 October 2020, the Commission received a reasoned request from the competent authority to extend the action in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The reasoned request was made on the basis of concerns that air transport safety might continue to be endangered by microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems and the argument that BIOBOR JF is essential in order to control such microbiological contamination.

(5)

According to the information provided by the competent authority, the only alternative biocidal product recommended by aircraft and engine manufacturers for the treatment of microbiological contamination was withdrawn from the market in March 2020 on account of severe engine behaviour anomalies noticed after the treatment with that product.

(6)

As indicated by the competent authority, the mechanical treatment of microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems entails setting up of regular draining operations and microbiological testing of drainage samples, requiring additional staff and the establishment of complex procedures for sampling and laboratory testing of samples, which do not appear to be suitable for the Luxembourgish airline fleet. Moreover, the manual cleaning of contaminated tanks – needed if contamination is detected – would expose workers to toxic gases and should be avoided.

(7)

According to the information provided by the competent authority, the manufacturer of BIOBOR JF has taken steps towards the regular authorisation of the product and an application for approval of the active substances it contains is expected to be submitted early 2021. The approval of the active substances and subsequent authorisation of the biocidal product would represent a permanent solution for the future, but a significant amount of time will be needed for the completion of those procedures.

(8)

As the lack of control of microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuels systems might endanger the air transport safety and that danger cannot be adequately contained by using another biocidal product or by other means, it is appropriate to allow the competent authority to extend the action for a period not exceeding 550 days starting from the day following the expiry of the initial period of 180 days permitted in the decision of the competent authority of 4 May 2020 as amended on 7 October 2020.

(9)

Considering that the action has lapsed since 1 November 2020, this Decision should have retroactive effect.

(10)

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