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Pesticide Registration

Guidance to Registrants: Process for Making Claims Against Emerging Viral Pathogens not on EPA-Registered Disinfectant Labels

Emerging pathogens are a public health concern. Many of the pathogens of greatest concern are viruses, and the ability of some of these viruses to contaminate hard surfaces can play a role in the transmission of these viruses to people. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, EPA evaluates the efficacy of antimicrobial products intended to control pathogens that can be detrimental to public health.

This document provides general guidance to registrants that can be used to identify effective disinfectant products for use against emerging viral pathogens and to permit registrants to make limited claims of their product’s efficacy against such pathogens. The guidance outlines a voluntary, two stage process involving product label amendments and modified terms of registration and applies only to emerging viruses. Actions described by this guidance may be taken for eligible products only after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the emerging pathogen and recommended environmental surface disinfection to help control its spread.