RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Directive 98/8/EC harmonizes and regulates in the European market authorization and registration of biocides and establishes a period of 14 years for review of active substances. This study analyzes the most significant changes produced in the registry of biocides used as disinfectants registered since the publication of the Directive. METHOD: Information was obtained from the registry of biocides published in the website of the Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality in May 2010. We used an Excel data base for the dump and data processing. RESULTS: There are 1575 biocides with intended use as environmental and food area disinfectants registered in Spain (1137 formulas and 438 active ingredients). Formulas are composed of 56 active sustances which are being assessed for their inclusion in the Community list of authorized substances. 54% of the formulas are registered as both bactericide and fungicide, 79% are contact disinfectants, 42% of the formulas correspond to those composed of quaternary ammonium compounds and 67.9% are made with a single active substance. Regarding hazardous properties 45.3% are corrosive, 25.7% irritant, 9.8% harmful, 1.1% toxic , and 33.1% are dangerous to the environment. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish registry of biocides has complied with the provisions of the Directive cancelling the registrations of the formulas containing substances not included in the list. Of all the substances which are under review in Europe, 58% of environmental disinfectants and 76.4% of food area disinfectants are authorized in Spain.