Cleanlink News October 21 2009
EPA To Launch Green Disinfectant Pilot Program
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials indicated
that they will formally announce the launching of the “green” disinfectant and
sanitizer pilot program in a Federal Register Notice expected to be issued in
mid-November.
This announcement was made at an October 13 meeting of the
Comparative Claims Workgroup held at the offices of EPA in Arlington, VA. This
workgroup has been meeting for over one year for the specific purpose of
establishing the parameters and criteria for the much anticipated pilot program
that will provide for Design for the Environment (DfE) recognition for certain
disinfectants and sanitizers as well as limited factual statements of
environmental preferability in relation to such products.
The pilot program will consist of two tracks: 1) DfE
Recognition; and 2) Factual Statements of Environmental Preferability.
In order for a disinfectant or sanitizer to garner DfE
Recognition under the pilot program, it will have to successfully undergo
review by both DfE and the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP).
The
pilot program will also encompass a track that allows registrants to make
certain limited factual statements of environmental preferability in regard to
disinfectants and sanitizers. In regard to this aspect of the pilot, EPA
significantly cut back on the claims it would allow to be made in conjunction
with such products.
