(1)Article 1 is replaced by the following:‘Article 1Subject matterThis Regulation lays down the procedure applicable where an authorisation is sought for a product (the ‘same product’) which is identical to another single biocidal product, biocidal product family, or individual product of a biocidal product family which has been authorised or registered in accordance with Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Councilnote or Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, or for which an application for such authorisation has been submitted (the ‘related reference product’), with regard to all the latest information submitted in relation to the authorisation or registration, except information which can be the subject of an administrative change in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2013note.
(2)in Article 3, the following paragraph 1a is inserted.‘1a.Where the related reference product has been authorised by Union authorisation or is the subject of an application for such an authorisation, applications for national authorisation of a same product shall be submitted in accordance with Article 29(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 to the competent authority of the Member State in which the national authorisation is sought.’;
(3)the following Articles 4a and 4b are inserted:‘Article 4aSubmission and acceptance of applications under the simplified procedure1.Where the related reference product has been authorised in accordance with Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 or is the subject of an application for such an authorisation, applications for authorisation of a same product shall be submitted in accordance with Article 26(1) of that Regulation to the competent authority that has granted or is requested to grant the authorisation of the related reference product.2.The competent authority shall accept the application in accordance with Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.Article 4bGuidance on handling applications for authorisation of same products1.The Agency shall, after consulting the Member States, the Commission and interested parties, draw up guidelines on the details related to the handling of applications covered by this Regulation.2.Where necessary, those guidelines shall be updated taking into account the contributions from Member States and interested parties on its implementation as well as scientific and technical progress.’;
(4)Article 5 is replaced by the following:‘Article 5Evaluation and decision on applications for national authorisationBy way of derogation from Article 30 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, the receiving competent authority shall decide whether to grant or refuse authorisation of a same product in accordance with Article 19 of that Regulation within 60 days from the validation of the application in accordance with Article 3 of this Regulation, or, where applicable, from the subsequent date of adoption of the corresponding decision concerning the related reference product.’;
(5)in Article 6, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:‘2.If the Agency recommends the authorisation of the same product, the opinion shall contain at least both the following elements:
(a)a statement on whether the conditions laid down in Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 are fulfilled, and a draft summary of biocidal products characteristics, as referred to in Article 22(2) of that Regulation;
(b)where relevant, details of any terms and conditions which should be imposed on the making available on the market and use of the same product.’;
(6)the following Article 6a is inserted:‘Article 6aEvaluation and decision on applications under the simplified procedure1.By way of derogation from Article 26(3) and (4) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, the receiving competent authority shall decide whether to grant or refuse authorisation of a same product in accordance with Article 25 of that Regulation within 60 days from the acceptance of the application in accordance with Article 4a(2) of this Regulation, or, where applicable, from the subsequent date of adoption of the corresponding decision concerning the related reference product.2.The evaluation shall include a check that the information indicated in Article 2 has been submitted and that the proposed differences between the same product and the related reference product concern merely information which can be the subject of an administrative change in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2013.3.Where the product authorised through this procedure is intended to be made available on the market of other Member States, Article 27 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 shall apply.’.