Derogations tracker or eased regulations
Finland
Finland's Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) has extended its exemption from the usual authorisation requirements for ethanol-based disinfectants until the end of 2020.
The derogation allows producers of hand sanitisers and surface disinfectants to source ethanol from suppliers that are not listed on the EU biocidal product Regulation’s (BPR’s) Article 95 list of approved substance suppliers. It was due to expire on 31 July but Tukes says it remains important to ensure a solid supply of disinfectants.
US
US EPA offices in regions 1, 6 and 8 are preparing to reopen after a seven-day closure for sanitation procedures designed to inactivate the coronavirus. Region 6 in Dallas, Texas, closed its facility for cleaning on 28 May, while offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Denver, Colorado closed on 29 May.
Following the week-long closure, the agency will evaluate whether to proceed with the first step of a two-phase reopening plan. In the first phase, offices will remain closed to visitors and at-risk workers will be asked to continue to work from home.
An EPA spokesperson said the agency plans to take a "measured and deliberate approach" that will be informed by the reopening status of the state and local area.
Denmark
Denmark’s EPA has ordered the company MTM Service Aps to revoke more than 4,000 bottles of hand disinfectant that are labelled as 85% ethanol but contain none of the substance.
The EPA found the failed batch through a sample analysis of hand disinfectants on the Danish market. MTM Service Aps’ product "is not effective against bacteria and viruses", the agency said, and the company "has done misleading marketing".
The company was ordered to recall the product by direct contact with all buyers and by advertising on Facebook.
Guidance
Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s environment ministry has published an overview of the legal requirements for supplying hand and surface disinfectants to the country’s market.
The resource is aimed at producers and distributors of disinfectants that have entered the market during the pandemic, the ministry says. It reminds them that, despite current legal exemptions for hand and surface sanitisers, the production and marketing of these products is "subject to certain European rules, in order to be able to guarantee the efficacy and safety of the product."
Philippines
On 3 June, the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its list of approved hand sanitiser and rubbing alcohol products.
The FDA is encouraging the public to only purchase and use the products included in the list, which contain products from reputable establishments, so as to avoid unregistered/unnotified products.
US
The US EPA’s enforcement office has issued an advisory on disinfectants claiming to kill the coronavirus causing Covid-19.
The paper explains how disinfectants that claim to kill viruses must be registered with the agency and advises consumers how to spot products that may not be effective.
The EPA says it is receiving a "steady stream" of tips and complaints concerning potentially false or misleading claims, including efficacy claims, associated with disinfectants. It is "actively reviewing" these claims and "intends to pursue enforcement", the agency says.