At Sterilex, we develop innovative technologies and solutions to control microbial threats and maintain healthy environments. Our products control pathogens, enhance well-being, ensure product integrity, and increase productivity in the industries we serve.
It is very important to us that our products perform the way they are designed to and truly safeguard our food supply, while protecting human and animal health. To ensure performance and legally make efficacy claims, all products must be registered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What is the EPA?
The EPA regulates pesticides under broad authority granted in two major statutes: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
When we think about pests, we immediately think of rodents and insects. But pests include more than what meets the human eye. Bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that cause diseases are also considered pests. The EPA regulates all antimicrobial product labels and claims that state a product kills, prevents, or controls any microorganism. These products are all called pesticides. The language and claims contained on each label must be supported with extensive scientific data that is submitted to EPA in the pesticide registration approval process. These labels govern usage rates, applications and directions for use. End users of chemicals must ensure compliance with the label and should understand the meaning behind different label claims.
The EPA registration process
The process to register a pesticide can be grueling, but is a scientific, legal and administrative procedure that examines:
- The ingredients of the pesticide;
- The site or crop where it is to be used;
- The amount, frequency, and timing of its use; and
- Storage and disposal practices.
This process assesses human health and environmental effects associated with use of a product and evaluates the potential for harm to humans, wildlife, fish, and plants and contamination of surface water or ground water from leaching, runoff, and spray drift.
Why is an EPA registration important?
- Products must be EPA registered if they claim or imply efficacy against pathogens.
- EPA registered products are proven to kill bacteria and inactivate viruses listed on the label.
- You can trust that an EPA-registered product is going to do what you need it to do, if used according to the label.
- Often, EPA-registered products can be verified to ensure that active ingredients are stable and doing its job.
- EPA-registered products are preferred for audit compliance because they are proven to kill bacteria and inactivate viruses and can be verified.
- EPA-registered products require product-specific toxicity testing – beyond generic Safety Data Sheets (SDS) – to inform personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety measures.
- Disinfectant and Sanitizer are two distinct, EPA-regulated terms. A product can only claim to disinfect and/or sanitize if it is EPA-registered.
Summary
We are committed to doing things right and work hard to ensure we don’t make promises we cannot keep. You can trust that Sterilex products are effective, not because we say so, but because they have gone through strict, third-party testing that has been reviewed and approved by the EPA to prove the label claims. To learn more about our products and how you can implement them into your sanitation and disinfection process, visit https://www.sterilex.com/products/