Prepare your summary of biocidal product characterics now in IUCLID

If you are applying to have your biocidal product authorised at EU or national level, you now need to prepare the summary of product characteristics (SPC) in IUCLID. The SPC Editor has been phased out.

Helsinki, 12 February 2024 – ECHA has adapted IUCLID to allow companies to prepare and update the summary of product characteristics (SPC) under the Biocidal Products Regulation. An SPC is needed when applying for biocidal product authorisations.

From now on, SPC files have to be prepared in IUCLID format (.i6z) for submitting applications or updates in the biocides submission tool, R4BP 3. SPC files already uploaded for ongoing applications in R4BP 3 or in approved applications will automatically be migrated to the new format. IUCLID can be downloaded from the IUCLID website or directly used with an account in ECHA Cloud Services.

The SPC Editor that was previously used for preparing SPC files, has been discontinued and is no longer accessible from ECHA’s website. However, you can upload old SPC files in .xml format to IUCLID and your files will automatically be migrated into the required .i6z format.

The transfer from the SPC Editor to IUCLID streamlines the preparation of biocidal products authorisations by reducing duplication of data, improving document management and enhancing security.

The Biocides Submission Manuals have been updated to help you navigate the change in SPCs. Additionally, ECHA will host a webinar to introduce the new SPC interface on 15 February from 11:00 to 12:30 Helsinki time. During the event, ECHA’s experts will give an overview of the IUCLID functionalities and the available supporting material, and respond to questions from participants.