If theres one thing you need when youre fighting a global pandemic, its disinfectants you can trust.
Regulators across Europe are seeing an increase in illegal disinfectant products, as soaring demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak has prompted a rush of new producers and sellers into the market.
“[Companies] with minor knowledge are starting to produce or import products, which they might not have done enough to guarantee are safe and efficient,” said a spokesperson from the Swedish Chemicals Agency, adding that “there might also be fraudulent products and companies that are taking advantage of the situation.”
POLITICO contacted all 27 national authorities in the EU to ask about the issue; of the 12 that replied, 10 said they had observed a clear increase.
Under pressure from consumers and hospitals desperate for products that can kill coronavirus on hands and on surfaces, EU countries have been easing laws to fast-track market access for new disinfectant products — something that normally needs a lengthy authorization procedure.
People queue as they wait to use an automatic dispenser selling face masks, protective gloves and alcohol gel in Jeumont, northern France | François Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images
That has prompted new players — including many booze producers that already produce ethanol, one of the key ingredients used in biocidal products that kill viruses and bacteria — to jump into the production of disinfectants.
While most of the intentions are good, the outcomes can be mixed. National regulators warn that theres been an increase in the number of ineffective disinfectant products, some containing hazardous substances or lacking approval, as well as more people mishandling the products.
Poisonings related to cleaners and disinfectants surged in France as the health crisis spurred a haphazard rush to disinfect everything, according to the French health agency. In the United States, calls to state and local poison control centers tied to cleaners and disinfectants rose 20 percent in the first quarter.
“Disinfectants contain biocidal active substances, which are harmful by definition; they are made and used to kill microbes, which means they may also have a lot of side effects” said Dorota Napierska, chemicals policy officer at Health Care Without Harm Europe, an NGO. “From an environmental point of view disinfectants may harm aquatic life, while in humans they can cause respiratory problems or skin issues.”
Europe-wide problem
The Danish environment ministry said it had received around 50 reports from the public of suspected non-compliant hand disinfectants, which it described as a “general rise.” There are more products entering the market that contain harmful substances, lack approval under the EUs Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) or whose effectiveness has not yet been documented, the ministry said.
Under the regulation, countries can put aside the standard BPR authorization requirements for 180 days if there is a public health emergency. Many European countries have used this loophole to make more disinfectants available. The World Health Organization has generic recipes for disinfectants, while some countries have come up with their own bespoke formulations.
“The biocides regulation is fairly new, and the rules, especially until theyre fully implemented, are complex,” said Kim Holm Boesen, head of the chemicals unit at the Danish ministry. “There are probably bad faith actors out there, but we also receive a lot of inquiries from people that want to help out.”
In Germany, authorities are also seeing an upsurge in information about illegal disinfectants. Matti Sander, head of the chemicals unit at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said he believed the increase in complaints was due to manufacturers trying out new mixtures, by for example lowering the concentration of ethanol, because of the shortage of that key ingredient.
Estonias Health Board, the national authority for biocides, said it had received 16 complaints of illegal disinfectants last month — usually it receives fewer than five a year. Problems include false registration numbers, incorrect efficacy claims and illegal advertising.
“There are many newcomers on the market who are still not completely aware of all the requirements, but of course there are also some companies whoRead More – Source
If theres one thing you need when youre fighting a global pandemic, its disinfectants you can trust.
Regulators across Europe are seeing an increase in illegal disinfectant products, as soaring demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak has prompted a rush of new producers and sellers into the market.
“[Companies] with minor knowledge are starting to produce or import products, which they might not have done enough to guarantee are safe and efficient,” said a spokesperson from the Swedish Chemicals Agency, adding that “there might also be fraudulent products and companies that are taking advantage of the situation.”
POLITICO contacted all 27 national authorities in the EU to ask about the issue; of the 12 that replied, 10 said they had observed a clear increase.
Under pressure from consumers and hospitals desperate for products that can kill coronavirus on hands and on surfaces, EU countries have been easing laws to fast-track market access for new disinfectant products — something that normally needs a lengthy authorization procedure.
People queue as they wait to use an automatic dispenser selling face masks, protective gloves and alcohol gel in Jeumont, northern France | François Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images
That has prompted new players — including many booze producers that already produce ethanol, one of the key ingredients used in biocidal products that kill viruses and bacteria — to jump into the production of disinfectants.
While most of the intentions are good, the outcomes can be mixed. National regulators warn that theres been an increase in the number of ineffective disinfectant products, some containing hazardous substances or lacking approval, as well as more people mishandling the products.
Poisonings related to cleaners and disinfectants surged in France as the health crisis spurred a haphazard rush to disinfect everything, according to the French health agency. In the United States, calls to state and local poison control centers tied to cleaners and disinfectants rose 20 percent in the first quarter.
“Disinfectants contain biocidal active substances, which are harmful by definition; they are made and used to kill microbes, which means they may also have a lot of side effects” said Dorota Napierska, chemicals policy officer at Health Care Without Harm Europe, an NGO. “From an environmental point of view disinfectants may harm aquatic life, while in humans they can cause respiratory problems or skin issues.”
Europe-wide problem
The Danish environment ministry said it had received around 50 reports from the public of suspected non-compliant hand disinfectants, which it described as a “general rise.” There are more products entering the market that contain harmful substances, lack approval under the EUs Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) or whose effectiveness has not yet been documented, the ministry said.
Under the regulation, countries can put aside the standard BPR authorization requirements for 180 days if there is a public health emergency. Many European countries have used this loophole to make more disinfectants available. The World Health Organization has generic recipes for disinfectants, while some countries have come up with their own bespoke formulations.
“The biocides regulation is fairly new, and the rules, especially until theyre fully implemented, are complex,” said Kim Holm Boesen, head of the chemicals unit at the Danish ministry. “There are probably bad faith actors out there, but we also receive a lot of inquiries from people that want to help out.”
In Germany, authorities are also seeing an upsurge in information about illegal disinfectants. Matti Sander, head of the chemicals unit at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said he believed the increase in complaints was due to manufacturers trying out new mixtures, by for example lowering the concentration of ethanol, because of the shortage of that key ingredient.
Estonias Health Board, the national authority for biocides, said it had received 16 complaints of illegal disinfectants last month — usually it receives fewer than five a year. Problems include false registration numbers, incorrect efficacy claims and illegal advertising.
“There are many newcomers on the market who are still not completely aware of all the requirements, but of course there are also some companies whoRead More – Source
