Biobor JF in aircraft fuel tanks: Poland may allow the biocide until 24 October 2027 — Decision (EU) 2026/1104; similar permissions for Hungary and Estonia, the application for approval of the active substance was only submitted in 2025
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1104, published on 26 May 2026, allows the Polish Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products to extend until 24 October 2027 its permission for professional users to use the product Biobor JF to remove microorganisms from aircraft fuel tanks and fuel systems. Hungary received permission until 28 October 2027 (2026/1182), Estonia — until 27 October 2027 (2026/2122, published on 28 September).
- According to the decision, microbial contamination of fuel tanks is caused by bacteria, moulds and yeasts that grow in standing water and feed on hydrocarbons at the fuel–water interface; if not removed, it can cause engine malfunction and endanger airworthiness. Preventing contamination, detecting it and acting once it is detected are therefore essential to avoid operational problems.
- The active substance of Biobor JF — the 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) — has not been evaluated for product-type 6 and is not part of the review programme, so Member States can only allow the product under Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The only alternative product recommended by aircraft and engine manufacturers, Kathon FP 1.5, was withdrawn from the market in March 2020 after serious engine malfunctions.
- Poland has been using this route since 2020: Decision (EU) 2021/1315 allowed the action of 6 November 2020 to be extended until 6 November 2022 (then also for preventing the occurrence of microorganisms), Decision (EU) 2023/2634 — the action of 13 March 2023 until 13 March 2025. The current Polish action of 23 October 2025 applied until 21 April 2026.
- In 2021 the application for approval of the active substances was announced for mid-2022, in 2023 for the first half of 2024; according to the 2026 decision it was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency in June 2025. Approval of the substance and authorisation of the product would be a lasting solution, but the procedures take a long time. Mechanical cleaning of tanks is not always possible, and engine manufacturers’ procedures require a biocide even when cleaning is carried out.