Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2122 of 24 September 2026 allowing the extension of the action taken by the Estonian Health Board permitting the making available on the market and use of the biocidal product Biobor JF in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2026) 6665)

On 27 October 2025, the Estonian Health Board (‘the Estonian competent authority’) adopted a decision in accordance with Article 55(1), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 to permit until 24 April 2026, the making available on the market and use by professional users of the biocidal product Biobor JF for the antimicrobial treatment of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems (‘the action’). The Estonian competent authority informed the Commission and the competent authorities of the other Member States of the action and the justification for it, in accordance with Article 55(1), second subparagraph, of that Regulation.

According to the information provided by the Estonian competent authority, the action was necessary in order to protect public health. Microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems is caused by micro-organisms, such as bacteria, mould and yeast, that grow in stagnant water and feed off hydrocarbons in the fuel at the fuel-to-water interface. If left untreated, the microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems can lead to malfunctions of the aircraft engine and endanger the aircraft airworthiness, thereby endangering the safety of passengers and crew. The detection, prevention and treatment of microbiological contamination are therefore crucial in order to avoid operational problems in aircraft.

Biobor JF contains as active substance reaction mass of 2,2'-[(1-methylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis(oxy)]bis[4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane] and 2,2'-oxybis(4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane). Biobor JF is a biocidal product of product-type 6 (‘preservatives for products during storage’), as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.

Reaction mass of 2,2'-[(1-methylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis(oxy)]bis[4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane] and 2,2'-oxybis(4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane) has not been evaluated for use in biocidal products of product-type 6. As that substance is not listed among the substance/product-type combinations included in the review programme on 17 March 2022, as set out in Annex II to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1062/2014 (2), it is not included in the work programme for the systematic examination of all existing active substances contained in biocidal products referred to in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. Article 89 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 allowing Member States to continue to apply their current system or practice of making available on the market or using a given biocidal product therefore does not apply to that active substance. Therefore, this active substance needs to be assessed and approved before biocidal products containing it can be authorised also at national level.

On 11 February 2026, the Commission received a reasoned request from the Estonian competent authority to allow the extension of the action in accordance with Article 55(1), third subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The reasoned request was based on concerns that air transport safety might continue to be endangered by microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems and on the argument that Biobor JF is essential in order to control such microbiological contamination.

According to the information provided by the Estonian competent authority, the only alternative biocidal product recommended by aircraft and aircraft engine manufacturers for the treatment of microbiological contamination, namely, Kathon™ FP 1.5, was withdrawn from the market in March 2020 due to severe behaviour anomalies in aircraft engines that were noticed after the treatment of aircraft engines with that product. Biobor JF is therefore the only available product for that use recommended by aircraft and aircraft engine manufacturers.

The manufacturer of Biobor JF has taken steps to seek an authorisation of the product. An application for approval of the active substance that Biobor JF contains was submitted in June 2025 to the European Chemicals Agency. The approval of the active substance and the authorisation of the biocidal product would constitute a long-term solution, but a significant amount of time is necessary for the completion of the approval and authorisation procedures.

The lack of control of microbiological contamination of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems might endanger air transport safety, and that danger cannot be adequately contained by using another biocidal product or by any other means. It is therefore appropriate to allow the Estonian competent authority to extend the action beyond 24 April 2026, for a period of 550 days.

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