Day: March 6, 2020

The EPA-registered disinfectant products on our Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 list have qualified under EPA’s emerging viral pathogen program for use against SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product. The emerging viral pathogen guidance was triggered for SARS-CoV-2 on January 29, 2020.   

EPA strongly recommends following the product label use directions for enveloped viruses, as indicated by the approved emerging viral pathogen claim on the master label. If the directions for use for viruses/virucidal activity list different contact times or dilutions, use the longest contact time or most concentrated solution.

Application Information for Registrants Wanting an Emerging Viral Pathogen Claim

A company can apply for an emerging viral pathogens claim, even before an outbreak occurs, based on previously EPA-approved claims for harder-to-kill viruses. EPA reviews the supporting information and determines if the claim is acceptable. Once approved, a company can make certain off-label claims as specified in the policy in the event of an outbreak such as the SARS-CoV-2. For instance, the company can include an efficacy statement on:

• technical literature distributed to health care facilities, physicians, nurses, public health officials;
• non-label-related websites;
• consumer information services; and
• social media sites.

Companies with EPA-registered disinfectants that want their products added to List N, should provide the information as outlined below to disinfectantslist (disinfectantslist@epa.gov).

1. Ensure that the product has a previously approved emerging viral pathogen claim.
2. Provide the product name and EPA Registration number.

Note: There may be additional disinfectants that meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. EPA will update this list with additional products as needed.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

February 11, 2020

As human coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), can remain active on surfaces for up to nine days, professional cleaners have been concerned about finding an effective cleaning solution to eliminate it. A study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection found using a solution that is 62% to 72% ethanol, .5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within one minute of contact will kill the virus. In contrast, the scientists found that solutions containing 0.04% benzalkonium chloride, 0.06% sodium hypochlorite and 0.55% ortho-phtalaldehyde were less effective.

To determine the correct cleaning chemical formula, investigators with University Medicine Greifswald and Ruhr University Bochum in Germany looked at 22 studies that dealt with disinfection techniques for human coronavirus such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, or endemic human coronaviruses (HCoV). The researchers looked at studies that provided original data on coronaviruses including their persistence on surfaces and materials and their inactivation due to biocidal disinfecting agents.

Investigators stressed that using the proper solution is only one part of the equation and that cleaning and disinfection procedures must be followed consistently and correctly to be effective.

Regarding the new name for the coronavirus, which was announced Tuesday, WHO officials said they were careful to choose a name that was easy to pronounced and did not inspire stigma, as it did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, or a group of people.

Source: https://www.issa.com/media/news/report-reveals-effective-cleaning-solution-for-newly-named-coronavirus