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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 productsnote, and in particular Article 55(1), third subparagraph, thereof,Whereas:
(1)On 27 August 2025, the Belgian Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (‘the Belgian competent authority’) adopted, in accordance with Article 55(1), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, a decision to permit, until 23 February 2026, the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products Recrute Pro and Recrute HD in Pairi Daiza animal park (‘the action’). The Belgian 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 Belgian competent authority, the action was necessary because of a danger to the environment that could not be contained by other means. Following the import of wood material from the south of France, some greenhouses in the Pairi Daiza animal park have been infested by termites of the species Reticulitermes flavipes. The infestation with this type of termite is a danger to the environment, as these invasive harmful organisms could spread further in the animal park and outside.
(3)Recrute Pro and Recrute HD are biocidal products of product-type 18 (insecticides, acaricides and products to control other arthropods), as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. They are bait products containing hexaflumuron as an active substance, which acts as a chitin synthesis inhibitor. Hexaflumuron is currently the only approved chitin synthesis inhibitor active substance, but no biocidal product containing that active substance has been authorised so far.
(4)As explained by the Belgian competent authority, the treatment with Recrute Pro and Recrute HD appears to be the only means to eradicate the termites at Pairi Daiza. The fight against termites of the species Reticulitermes flavipes can only be carried out by applying bait systems. A treatment with a biocidal product containing a different active substance (diflubenzuron) has been carried out in Pairi Daiza animal park prior to the action, but proved to be unsuccessful. Hexaflumuron is the only active substance currently approved in the Union for use against termites and an application for the authorisation of Recrute Pro and Recrute HD is currently under evaluation in Portugal.
(5)On 8 January 2026, the Commission received a reasoned request from the Belgian competent authority to allow the extension of the action, in accordance with Article 55(1), third subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. As explained by the Belgian competent authority, the programme of eradication of Reticulitermes flavipes at the Pairi Daiza animal park could not be completed during the 180-day period of the initial decision permitting the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products Recrute Pro and Recrute HD in Pairi Daiza animal park. The uninterrupted continuation of the action is necessary, to allow its completion and prevent the risk of further spread of the termites.
(6)The presence of Reticulitermes flavipes at the Pairi Daiza animal park poses a danger to the environment which cannot be adequately contained by using another biocidal product or by other means. It is therefore appropriate to allow the Belgian competent authority to extend the action for a period of 550 days.
(7)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 Belgian Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment may extend from 24 February 2026 until 28 August 2027 the action to permit the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products Recrute Pro and Recrute HD for the eradication of termites of the species Reticulitermes flavipes at the Pairi Daiza animal park, provided that it ensures that the product is only used under its supervision.
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