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🔎 Things to remember
The professional use of biocidal products (e.g., disinfectants, rodenticides, wood preservatives) has been regulated by the “Certibiocide” decree since July 1, 2015. These products pose significant health and environmental risks, while many pests and viruses regularly proliferate throughout our country. Thus, the goal of Certibiocide is to ensure that professionals have a better understanding of these products and to ensure the safe handling of these chemicals.
What is Certibiocide?
The Certibiocide is a mandatory individual certification for anyone who uses biocidal products as part of their professional activities as a decision-maker, purchaser, distributor, or user. It is issued by the Ministry of the Environment and is tailored to the professional’s specific activities and the types of products used.
It should be noted that the Certibiocide and Certiphyto certifications (the latter covering plant protection products such as pesticides) are entirely separate. Holding one certification no longer exempts you from training for the other.
Biocidal products are classified into 22 product types (PT).
Note: The BioCID website (https://biocid-anses.fr/) allows you to search for a product and find out its TP.
Who is eligible for Certibiocide?
Certibiocide is available in three distinct categories:
- Certibiocide disinfectants: mandatory as of January1, 2026, for individuals acting as decision-makers, purchasers, or distributors of the following types of products:
o Type 2: Disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals
o Type 3: For veterinary hygiene
o Type 4: Surfaces that come into contact with food and animal feed
- Certibiocide for pest control: mandatory for individuals acting as professional users, distributors, or purchasers of the following types of products:
o Type 14: Rodenticides. Products used to control mice, rats, or other rodents
o Category 18: Insecticides, acaricides, and products used to control other arthropods. Products used to control arthropods (such as insects, arachnids, and crustaceans)
o Type 20: Control of other vertebrates. Products used to control harmful vertebrates
- Certibiocide other products: mandatory for individuals acting as professional users, distributors, or purchasers of products in categories 8, 15, and 21:
o Type 8: Wood protection products. Products used to protect wood from sawmills—including during the processing phase at the sawmill—or wood products, by controlling organisms that destroy or damage wood. This type of product includes preservatives and treatment products.
o Type 15: Bird repellents. Products used to control birds
o Type 21: Antifouling products
Professionals who hold a "pest control" Certibiocide certification do not need to hold an "other products" Certibiocide certification to purchase, use, or sell TP8, TP15, and TP21 products intended for professional use.
Please note that the certificate is always issued to an individual, not to a company.
A professional user is someone who handles the products on a daily basis.A purchaser is someone who selects and orders the purchase of the biocide for the company.
The salesperson sells products and advises customers.
The role of "decision-maker " applies specifically to Certibiocide disinfectants. This person establishes the protocols for use within the facility. They approve the services and provide guidance to field staff who are not required to hold this certification.
Which products and activities are exempt from Certibiocide?
The certification requirement does not apply:
- biocidal products purchased and used exclusively in the production, processing, and distribution of food and feed;
- to products purchased and used exclusively in an industrial production system;
- to biocidal products used by fire and rescue service personnel, officials responsible for health inspections at borders, and military personnel assigned on a permanent basis to civil protection duties, provided that such personnel have undergone training on the risks associated with the use of these chemicals and on appropriate individual or collective protective measures;
- to personnel recruited as reinforcements by the departments responsible for vector control during outbreaks of insect-borne diseases who use insecticides for the interventions provided for in Articles R. 3114-9 et seq. of the Public Health Code, provided that they have completed training on chemical hazards, the use of chemicals, and individual or collective protective measures;
- For the Certibiocide disinfectant, to personnel working in the fields of human and animal health, provided they can demonstrate ongoing training (aligned with the periodic recertification requirements for human health*, at least every five years for animal health) covering chemical risks, the use of biocidal disinfectants, and individual or collective protective measures. These healthcare professionals must notify the General Directorate for Risk Prevention of these training courses by July 1, 2027. The Directorate will assess whether the notified training courses meet the objectives set forth in this decree. The list of approved training courses will be published in the Official Bulletin of the Ministry of the Environment no later than January 1, 2028.
* Every healthcare professional must provide proof of compliance with these periodic certification requirements:
- every 9 years for professionals already practicing as of January 1, 2023, and then every 6 years,
- every 6 years for those who begin practicing after January 1, 2023.
The explanatory note accompanying the Certibiocide decree provides further details on these exemptions.
How do I get my Certibiocide certification?
The Certibiocide certification is obtained by completing a training course at an accredited “Certibiocide” training organization. Training courses may be conducted in person or via videoconference.
You must create an account on the CERTIBIOCIDE platform in order to register for a training session after contacting one of the authorized training organizations.
The duration of the training varies depending on the category chosen. It is 7 hours (one day) for disinfectants and other products. It is 21 hours (three days) for pest control. A 30-question test assesses the skills acquired. You must answer 20 questions correctly to pass the exam. Candidates who do not achieve a score of 20 out of 30 must complete a 2-hour refresher training course for the “disinfectants” and “other products” Certibiocide categories, and a 7-hour course for the “pest control” Certibiocide category.
Once the training course has been completed and approved by the training provider, the certificate is emailed to the candidate and remains available for download on the CERTIBIOCIDE platform.
The certificate is valid for five years and is renewed under the same conditions as when it was first issued. The employer covers all costs associated with this training.
What are the employer's obligations?
The employer must provide training to new employees subject to Certibiocide within six months. During this period, the employee must be supervised by a mentor.
Companies whose employees must hold a Certibiocide certification to use, purchase, or sell biocidal products must also submit an annual declaration to the Ministry of the Environment by March 31 via the CERTIBIOCIDE platform - https://certibiocide.din.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/
This statement includes, in particular:
- the company's name, business name, and SIRET number;
- the number of company employees engaged in activities subject to Certibiocide certification (including new hires who have not yet been certified), along with their individual certificate numbers.
As for distributors, they are required to maintain a sales ledger listing the products and quantities sold, as well as each buyer’s certificate number.
Note: If you hire contractors who use biocides (e.g., pest control), we encourage you to verify whether they are required to hold a Certibiocide certification based on the product used and, if so, to obtain a copy of their certificate.