EPA Expands List of Approved SARS-CoV-2 Chemical Disinfectant Products Past 500

Since its initial release earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) List N has served as a highly useful resource, providing access to a directory of disinfectant products considered effective against SARS-CoV-2. Growing steadily since then, the list has increased in size several fold. In this blog post, we take a look at the virus and review List N and its expansion.

About the Coronavirus and COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic surges on, both in the U.S. and internationally, the number of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 continues to grow (with more than 1.3 million associated deaths worldwide as of November 2020). Person-to-person spread of the coronavirus is thought to occur primarily via respiratory droplets produced by infected individuals (e.g., sneezing or coughing). It is also thought to be spread when one touches a surface on which the virus is present, and then touches his or her face. In efforts to help protect against the coronavirus, many individuals are taking increased steps to disinfect the areas around them. The EPA has compiled and continues to update a list of chemical disinfectants that meet its criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2.

List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

In January 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was deemed a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In March of this year, the EPA released its original List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, coinciding with an early rise in COVID-19 cases in this country. It was developed to help provide the public with a list of surface disinfectant products expected to be effective against the novel coronavirus. This list enables users to search for a product based on several criteria, including EPA registration number, active ingredient, use site, contact time, and keyword.

As the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection has increased significantly, so too has the list of products on List N. Starting with just 85 products, the number currently exceeds 500. The list is expected to grow more in the coming months.

The significance of this milestone has been noted by the EPA. Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator, has stated “With more than 500 products now on our list of disinfectants, Americans have a wide range of options to choose from to help protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.”

Accessing Detailed Information

The EPA’s List N will be updated on the Agency's website as the number of chemical disinfectants for use against the coronavirus continues to grow.

To access detailed information on these chemical substances, as well as an abundance of others, be sure to visit the ToxPlanet website. Also, be sure to contact us and register for a Free Trial. Our powerful decision support solutions enable fast, seamless access to the information you need, whenever you need it.