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EPA Issues Emergency Exemption for Antimicrobial Product With Residual Claims Against COVID-19

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorized a public health emergency exemption under the provisions of Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) for use of an unregistered product, SurfaceWise®2, on non-porous, nonfood-contact surfaces to control the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), for use by 27 American Airlines aircraft and airport facilities in Texas, as well as Total Orthopedics Sports and Spine, also in Texas.

According to EPA, SurfaceWise®2, manufactured by Allied BioScience Inc., inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces for up to seven days. After reviewing the available data and information, EPA determined that the product in question will help address the current national emergency related to the pandemic. Consequently, EPA granted to the TDA a rarely issued emergency exemption for use of an antimicrobial product related to a public health emergency. Emergency exemptions may be granted by EPA under defined conditions set forth in Section 18 of FIFRA. FIFRA governs the manufacture, sale and use of all pesticides in the U.S., including disinfectant products intended to be used on inanimate surfaces.

For more information on EPA’s granting of this emergency exemption, click here.