CHAPTER 14: US Regulatory Approaches to Disinfectants for Coronavirus

This chapter looks at the United States regulatory approaches towards disinfectants for killing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of disinfectants under the Federal Insectide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, commonly known as FIFRA. The EPA maintains a list of disinfectants for killing SARS-CoV-2. The criteria for inclusion include demonstrated efficacy against SARS-CoV-2; demonstrated efficacy against a pathogen that is harder to kill than SARS-CoV-2; or demonstrated efficacy against a different human coronavirus that is similar to SARS-CoV-2. The chapter also explores the regulation of hand sanitizers under the US Food and Drug Administration temporary policy.