Meetings update
Europe
The competent authorities (CAs) for biocides and the EU Standing Committee for Biocidal Products (SCBP) have confirmed that they will hold their scheduled May meetings via an online meeting platform.
The SCBP meeting is scheduled for the morning of 15 May. The CAs will meet on 14 May and, if necessary, on the afternoon of 15 May. The Coordination Group will also meet between 18 and 22 May. This is a body formed by representatives of the member states and the Commission that manages disagreements on the mutual recognition of biocidal product authorisations.
All meeting agendas are yet to be distributed.
Relaxed regulations and implemented derogations
Canada, US relax transport requirements for hand sanitisers and disinfectants
The US and Canadian governments have eased their hazardous materials shipping requirements to facilitate the transportation of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and disinfectants.
The US’s temporary policy is set out in a 10 April memorandum from the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Transport Canada’s policy is addressed in Temporary Certificate No. 0752, last updated on 16 April.
Belarus
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus has increased the quota for disinfectants produced for sale in different regions in 2020.
According to a decree published on 14 April, the quotas will be:
- 120,000 decalitres for the production of alcohol-based, non-food antiseptic drugs for the Minsk region (previously 92,000 decalitres);
- 305,500 decalitres for the production of alcohol-based disinfectants for the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee (previously 180,000 decalitres);
- 500,000 decalitres for the production of alcohol-based disinfectants for Belgospischeprom, a Belarusian state food industry concern incorporating 57 food producers (previously 150,000 decalitres);
- 26,000 decalitres for the production of alcohol-based disinfectants for the Vitebsk region; and
- 200,000 decalitres for the production of alcohol-based disinfectants for the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
Guidance and feedback
US EPA launches webpage of Covid-19 resources
The US EPA has launched a webpage of resources related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Included are information on grants, enforcement and compliance programmes, water infrastructure and "other issues important to effective environmental programme delivery".
US EPA seeks science advisory feedback on Covid-19 research areas
The US EPA has asked its Science Advisory Board (SAB) for a "rapid review" of possible research areas it has identified in its efforts to understand the environmental and human health impacts of Covid-19. These include environmental cleanup and disinfection techniques, virus behaviour in wastewater and the air and procedures for disinfecting personal protective equipment (PPE).
The agency plans to publish charge questions to the SAB and dates for two public meetings later this week.
UK standards body makes hygiene guidance available for free
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has made 12 standards relating to the manufacture of hygiene products, particularly chemical disinfectants and antiseptics, available for free in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of the 12 standards:
- four (including one draft) deal with bacteria;
- one with fungi;
- one with mycobacteria;
- two with viruses;
- three with hand methods for bacterial hygiene; and
- one draft with hand methods for viral hygiene;
The BSI says that it will continue to work in collaboration with the UK Department of Health, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and health industry "to identify ways we can continue to support them during this time".
Get in touch
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