(1)

The active substance propiconazole was included in Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) for use in biocidal products of product-type 8, and pursuant to Article 86 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is therefore considered approved under that Regulation subject to the specifications and conditions set out in Annex I to that Directive.

(2)

The approval of propiconazole for use in biocidal products of product-type 8 will expire on 31 March 2020. On 1 October 2018, an application was submitted in accordance with Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 for the renewal of the approval of propiconazole.

(3)

On 8 February 2019, 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 application was necessary. Pursuant to Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, 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, request the applicant to provide sufficient data to carry out the evaluation, in accordance with Article 8(2) of that Regulation. In such case, 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)

Consequently, for reasons beyond the control of the applicant, the approval of propiconazole for use in biocidal products of product-type 8 is likely to expire before a decision has been taken on its renewal. It is therefore appropriate to postpone the expiry date of approval of propiconazole for use in biocidal products of product-type 8 for a period of time sufficient to enable the examination of the application.

(7)

Considering that propiconazole is classified as toxic for reproduction category 1B in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), and therefore meets the exclusion criterion set out in point (c) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, after further discussion with Member States, it is considered appropriate to postpone the expiry date of approval for a shorter period of time. It is therefore proposed to extend the duration of approval until 31 March 2021.

(8)

Except for the expiry date of the approval, propiconazole remains approved for use in biocidal products of product-type 8 subject to the specifications and conditions set out in Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC,