Date: 2026-05-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1182 of 26 May 2026 concerning the extension of the action taken by the Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy 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) 3295)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
**Executive Summary**
This Decision authorizes the Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy to extend the temporary permit for the making available and use of the biocidal product Biobor JF until 28 October 2027. The extension is necessary to ensure air transport safety by controlling microbiological contamination in aircraft fuel systems. Biobor JF remains the only viable antimicrobial treatment following the withdrawal of alternative products and the limitations of mechanical cleaning.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory Context and Necessity**
* The Hungarian competent authority originally permitted the use of Biobor JF from 28 October 2025 until 25 April 2026 to protect public health and aircraft airworthiness.
* Microbiological contamination (bacteria, mould, and yeast) in aircraft fuel tanks can lead to engine malfunctions, endangering passengers and crew.
* A reasoned request for an extension was submitted to the Commission on 12 November 2025, as the risk to air safety persists.
**Product Specifications and Limitations**
* Biobor JF is a product-type 6 biocidal product (preservative for products during storage) containing specific dioxaborinane active substances.
* These active substances have not yet been evaluated for product-type 6 use and are not included in the systematic examination work programme under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.
* Authorisation for the active substance and the biocidal product was applied for in June 2025, but the approval process requires significant time to complete.
**Lack of Alternatives**
* The only alternative product previously recommended, Kathon™ FP 1.5, was withdrawn in March 2020 due to severe engine anomalies.
* Biobor JF is currently the only available product recommended by aircraft and engine manufacturers for this specific use.
* Mechanical treatment is not always possible and poses health risks to workers due to exposure to toxic gases.
**Impact Analysis**
**Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy**
**Impact**
As the competent authority, they are the addressees of this Decision and are granted the legal framework to extend national emergency measures.
**Action Required**
The authority may formally extend the action permitting the market availability and professional use of Biobor JF until the new deadline of 28 October 2027.
**Professional Users (Aviation Maintenance)**
**Impact**
Maintenance crews and professional users regain legal access to a critical tool for ensuring aircraft airworthiness and passenger safety.
**Action Required**
Users must continue to apply the product for the antimicrobial treatment of aircraft fuel tanks and systems in accordance with the extended permit.
**Manufacturer of Biobor JF**
**Impact**
The manufacturer benefits from continued market access in Hungary while their product undergoes the formal European evaluation process.
**Action Required**
The manufacturer must continue to pursue the approval of the active substance and the subsequent authorisation of the biocidal product through the European Chemicals Agency to reach a long-term regulatory solution.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EU) No 528/2012: The primary EU legislative framework governing the making available on the market and use of biocidal products, providing the legal basis for emergency use derogations.
Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy: The national competent authority in Hungary responsible for the decision to permit the emergency use of the biocidal product Biobor JF in aircraft fuel systems.
Standing Committee on Biocidal Products: The regulatory committee that provides formal opinions on EU measures regarding biocidal product market authorizations and extensions of emergency actions.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1062/2014: The regulation defining the work programme for the systematic examination of existing active substances, which determines the regulatory status of ingredients in Biobor JF.
European Chemicals Agency: The EU agency responsible for processing applications for the approval of active substances and the authorization of biocidal products at the Union level.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/1182 28.5.2026
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/1182
of 26 May 2026
concerning the extension of the action taken by the Hungarian National Center for Public Health and
Pharmacy 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) 3295)
(Only the Hungarian text is authentic)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning
the making available on the market and use of biocidal products(1), and in particular Article 55(1), third subparagraph,
thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 28 October 2025, the Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy (‘the Hungarian competent
authority’) adopted a decision in accordance with Article 55(1), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012
to permit until 25 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 Hungarian
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.
(2) According to the information provided by the Hungarian 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.
(3) Biobor JF contains 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) as active substance. 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-tri
methyl-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, which has to be assessed and approved
before biocidal products containing it can be authorised also at national level.
(1) OJ L 167, 27.6.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/528/oj.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1062/2014 of 4 August 2014 on the work programme for the systematic examination of
all existing active substances contained in biocidal products referred to in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament
and of the Council (OJ L 294, 10.10.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2014/1062/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1182/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 28.5.2026
(4) On 12 November 2025, the Commission received a reasoned request from the Hungarian 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.
(5) According to the information provided by the Hungarian 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.
(6) As indicated by the Hungarian competent authority, the mechanical treatment of microbiological contamination of
aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems is not always possible and the procedures recommended by engine manufacturers
require the treatment with a biocidal product even when mechanical cleaning is possible. Moreover, mechanical
treatment would expose workers to toxic gases and should therefore be avoided.
(7) 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 needed for the completion of the approval and authorisation procedures.
(8) 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 controlled by using another biocidal product or by any other
means. It is therefore appropriate to allow the Hungarian competent authority to extend the action beyond 25 April
2026.
(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
Biocidal Products,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy may extend until 28 October 2027 the action permitting
the making available on the market for, and use by, professional users of the biocidal product Biobor JF for the
antimicrobial treatment of aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy.
Done at Brussels, 26 May 2026.
For the Commission
Olivér VÁRHELYI
Member of the Commission
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1182/oj