ECHA launches new alert on illegal disinfectants
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched an alert regarding the presence of disinfectants on the market not complying with the European regulations for these products. The invasion of the market by illegal or ineffective products is a consequence of the spreading of COVID-19 and the increased demand of virucidal disinfectants determined by it.
‘The high demand for disinfectants to fight COVID-19 – ECHA wrote in a press release, – and the granting by Member States of health emergency permits have attracted new producers and suppliers to the market.’
Many, though acting in good faith, are not aware of the norms regulating disinfectant and biocides, others took advantage of the situation. Twenty out of 27 Member States reported an increase of non compliant disinfectants on the market, either without the required authorisations (in Italy disinfectant products should be registered as either PMC ‘medical surgical aids’ or biocides according to the reference regulations and should include the authorisation number releases by the competent authority on the label), the hazard labelling or having formulations with low content of active substance that are not sufficient for a virucidal action.
RAPEX rapid alert system
In their statement, ECHA stressed that any cases of severe risk for the health of professionals and consumers is reported into the Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX), set up to ensure that such safety information reaches all countries. In the meantime, controls and inspections continue, carried out by the national authorities of the single Member States (in Italy such activity is carried by a special counterfeiting task force, the ‘Carabinieri NAS’, in cooperation with the High Health Institute).
Not only the products present in the distribution channels of the ‘physical’ market are under scrutiny, but online sales as well, as this was the most used during the closing down following the pandemic outbreak.
A disinfectant manufactured or used inappropriately, warned ECHA, can represent a risk for public health, and it is therefore essential that even during emergency periods the authorities carry out the enforcement of the provisions in force. The Agency has been collecting the feedback of national authorities on the difficulties and questions to be clarified to support the compliance at national level.
ECHA also specified that, in order to face and prevent the consequences of the pandemic spreading, national authorities are encouraged to grant derogations from the rules usually in force, even from the Biocide regulation, in order to increase and accelerate the production of disinfectants and ensure a rapid and continuous access by citizens and health professionals.
On this regard, the Agency is supporting the European Commission and the national authorities providing guidelines on the requirements for active substances used in the fight against the infection. Among other things, the Agency also reminded the documents published by the European Commission on the difference between hygienizing products and disinfectants (the former are cosmetics or detergents, the latter are biocides), in order to facilitate the application of the rules in borderline cases, including a manual on the application of the Regulation on Cosmetics, and a guidance on the application of the legislation on hand disinfectants and leave-on products.
Finally, ECHA started an information exchange with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to collect information of mutual interest that can contribute to the inquiries on frauds during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inquiry on illicit trade of disinfectants has already been started by the OLAF competent unit of, and is now ongoing all over Europe.
Written by: Maria Pia Felici
