Extension of granulated copper as a biocide for wood: what changes for manufacturers and distributors in 2026

Key data

Manufacturers and distributors of biocides containing granulated copper for wood protection will not see their commercial activity interrupted in 2026. The European Commission has adopted the Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2134, dated 24 September 2026, which delays the expiration date of the approval of this active substance in biocidal products of product type 8 (wood preservatives), under the Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.

The reason for the extension is strictly procedural: the evaluation process for renewal of the approval is ongoing and cannot be completed before the original expiration date. The Commission acts in this way to avoid a legal vacuum that would require the product to be withdrawn from the market before the technical review is concluded.

What does this regulation establish?

The Regulation (EU) 528/2012 regulates the marketing and use of biocidal products in the European Union. Within this framework, active substances must be approved in order to be incorporated into authorized biocidal products. When an approval is about to expire and the renewal process has not been completed, the Commission may delay the expiration date through an Implementing Decision.

This is exactly what Implementing Decision 2026/2134 provides: the delay of the expiration date of the approval of granulated copper as an active substance in biocidal products of product type 8. The key points are:

• The approval of granulated copper for type 8 biocides is extended beyond its original expiration date.
• The extension is granted because the renewal evaluation is ongoing and cannot be completed on time.
• The conditions of use and safety requirements already established for these products are not modified.
• The measure is technical-administrative in nature: it does not imply new obligations for operators.

Economic and operational impact

For companies in the sector, the impact of this decision is fundamentally positive and one of continuity. Without this extension, manufacturers and distributors of biocides with granulated copper for wood would have had to withdraw their products from the market upon expiration of the approval, with the economic and logistical consequences that this entails.

The concrete effects for companies are:

• No supply interruption: Operators in the construction and wood treatment sectors can continue to acquire these preservatives without changes.
• No new adaptation costs: Since the conditions of use and safety requirements are not modified, there are no expenses for reformulation, urgent re-labeling, or new authorization procedures.
• Guaranteed commercial continuity: Manufacturing and distribution companies maintain the legality of their activity during the extension period.
• Reduced regulatory uncertainty: The decision clears the short-term horizon, although the renewal evaluation is still ongoing and its outcome will determine the future of the active substance.

The only point of attention is that the extension is not indefinite: the renewal evaluation will conclude at some point and its outcome may imply changes in the approval conditions or, in the worst case, non-renewal. Companies must remain alert to the evolution of that process.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers of biocidal products that include granulated copper as an active substance in wood preservatives (product type 8).
• Distributors and marketers of these biocides in the European market.
• Companies in the construction sector that use wood preservatives in their processes or projects.
• Wood treatment companies (sawmills, industrial carpentry shops, wood structure manufacturers) that depend on the supply of these products.
• Importers and exporters of biocides with granulated copper within the European single market.
• Compliance officers (compliance officers, legal advisors) of companies in the chemical and construction materials sectors.

Practical example

A manufacturer of wood preservatives that markets in Spain and other EU countries a type 8 biocidal product with granulated copper as the active substance was facing the following situation: the approval of granulated copper was about to expire and the renewal process before the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) had not been completed.

Without Implementing Decision 2026/2134, this company would have had to halt the marketing of the product upon expiration of the approval, with the consequent impact on sales, customer contracts, and possible need to reformulate the product. Thanks to the extension, the company can continue manufacturing and distributing the product without any operational changes, maintaining its national authorizations in force and without incurring additional adaptation costs.

What this company must do is monitor the progress of the renewal evaluation: when the Commission adopts the final decision on the renewal (or non-renewal) of the approval, action must be taken accordingly.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify that affected products are correctly identified: Confirm which references in your catalog contain granulated copper as the active substance in type 8 biocides, to have a clear understanding of the scope of the extension.
2. Communicate continuity to the supply chain: Inform customers and distributors that the supply of these products is not interrupted and that marketing remains legal during the extension period.
3. Do not perform unnecessary operational changes: The decision does not modify conditions of use or safety requirements, so it is not necessary to reformulate products, update labels, or process new authorizations for this reason.
4. Monitor the renewal process: Be alert to publications by the ECHA and the EU Official Journal on the progress of the renewal evaluation of granulated copper for type 8. The outcome of that evaluation will determine the future of the active substance.
5. Prepare a contingency plan: Although the extension guarantees short-term continuity, it is advisable to have identified alternatives or reformulation plans in case the final renewal imposes new conditions or is not granted.

Official source

Consult full regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026D2134