(1)

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

(2)

The approval of hydrochloric acid for use in biocidal products of product-type 2 (‘the approval’) is to expire on 30 April 2024. On 26 October 2022, an application was submitted in accordance with Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 for the renewal of the approval (‘the application’).

(3)

On 13 February 2023, the evaluating competent authority of Latvia 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 that Regulation, 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, require the applicant to provide sufficient data to carry out the evaluation, in accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. In that event, 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 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 is likely to expire before a decision has been taken on its renewal. It is therefore appropriate to postpone the expiry date of the approval for a period of time sufficient to enable the examination of the application. Taking into account the time-limits for evaluation by the evaluating competent authority and for preparation and submission by the European Chemicals Agency of its opinion, and the time needed to decide whether the approval of hydrochloric acid for use in biocidal products for product-type 2 may be renewed, the expiry date should be postponed to 31 October 2026.

(7)

After the postponement of the expiry date of the approval, hydrochloric acid remains approved for use in biocidal products of product-type 2 subject to the conditions set out in Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC,