Authorisation classes for biocidal products
Content:
Sweden has a system of authorisation classes for biocidal products. The class determines the user categories allowed to use a certain biocidal product. Biocidal products in class 1 and 2 are only allowed to be used by professional users. Biocidal products in class 3 may be used by everyone, including non-professional users.
Information about authorisation classes
The Swedish Chemicals Agency decides which authorisation class shall be assigned to biocidal products that receive a national authorisation in Sweden. Which category or categories that shall be assigned depends on the properties of the product, and the level of knowledge required to be able to safely handle the product. Determining factors may for example be the concentration of the active substance, the size of the packaging, the use, application method or the chemical state of the product, i.e. if the product is in solid, gas or liquid form. The class may also depend on which authorisation classes a company applies for in their authorisation application. Products that have the same active substance may subsequently be placed in different authorisation classes.
Products in authorisation class 3 may be used by everyone, but it is advised that professional users consider that the products in class 3 may not have been risk assessed for frequent use and exposure.
The authorisation class applicable for a certain product is found in the Pesticides Register.
Here you can find the Pesticides Register (only in Swedish)
Products that receive a union authorisation according to the EU Biocidal Products Regulation are not assigned authorisation class 1, 2 or 3 used for national authorisations in Sweden. Products with union authorisation are instead assigned to four different user categories, documented in the conditions of the product. The table below states the different user categories and the corresponding class according to the national system in Sweden.
Products that receive a union authorisation according to the EU Biocidal Products Regulation are listed in Echa´s database for biocidal products.
Here you can find Echa's database of biocidal products External link.
Authorisation class according to the national legislation in Sweden | Corresponding user category according to EU Biocidal Products Regulation |
|---|---|
3 - the product may be used by each and everyone | Public (none- professional user) |
2 - the product is for professional use only | Professional user |
2 - the product is for professional use only | Industrial user |
1 - The product can only be used by professional users holding a permit for use | Professional user with training |
User permit and training
According to the Swedish system, biocidal products in class 1 require user permits. Prior to 1 june 2025, a letter was assigned to the class, e.g. 1 So, that indicates which Agency in Sweden that is responsible for issuing the permits.
The table below lists the authorisation classes and the different letters that have been assigned.
Class | Authorised user | Require permit | Require training | Responsible agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 AV | Professional | Yes | Yes | Swedish Work Environment Authority |
1 So 1SoX | Professional | Yes | Yes | The Public Health Agency of Sweden The Swedish Work Environment Authority |
2 | Professional | No | No | N/A |
3 | May be used by anyone | No | No | N/A |
So = The Public Health Agency of Sweden
Av = The Swedish Work Environment Authority
The assigned letters will disappear over time
As of 1 June 2025 the Swedish Chemicals Agency no longer assigns letters to indicate the agency responsible for training and permits needed for the use of biocidal products belonging to user class 1. Products that have already been assigned a letter will keep the letter until the authorisation is renewed. The agency responsible for training is stated in Chapter 3, Sections 11 a, 13 a and 14 a of the Swedish regulation (2014:425).
To which Agency you should apply to receive the permit depends on where the product should be used, and what the purpose of the use would be. The Public Health Agency of Sweden grants user permits for treatment against pests if the purpose is to protect residences or premises for public purposes, but if the pesticide should be used to protect premises that the public does not have access to, then the permit would be granted by the Swedish Work Environment Authority. Examples of such premises could be warehouses, restaurant kitchens, factories and animal stables. Depending on where the pesticide is intended to be used, you may need to apply for the permit from both authorities. A biocidal product with the designation SO / SoX can also be used in the Work Environment Agency's area of use, provided that the use is covered by the Work Environment Agency's area of responsibility. A use permit is granted to an individual and cannot be held by a company.
The training for use of biocidal products in class 1So is administrated by the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Class 1So-permits and class 1SoX-permits are two different user permits with different training requirements. A 1SoX-permit does not include the use of class 1So products.
Read more about the Public Health Agency of Sweden's permits here External link. (only in Swedish).
If you have completed The Swedish Board of Agriculture´s training (1L) the Swedish Work Environment Authority assesses that you have the appropriate training to use certain pesticides against rats assigned the 1So class, you still need to apply for a permit.
Read more about using class 1So pesticides at the Swedish Work Environment Authority's webpage External link.(only in Swedish).