An EPA work group has committed to developing a policy that would allow companies to make “green” claims and / or use eco-labels in conjunction with the promotion and marketing of disinfectants, sanitizers and possibly other EPA registered pesticide products. Current EPA policy prohibits such claims due to their concern that eco-labels such as from Green Seal, Environmental Choice or EPA’s Design for the Environment Program could lead to product misuse because consumers might think they were “safe” and fail to follow label directions.

In this regard, Steve Ashkin will be co-chair of the committee along with ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs, Bill Balek, who are tasked with the responsibility of carving a path forward for the use of environmentally preferable claims related to institutional and commercial disinfectants and sanitizers. This committee will report its results to the EPA Work Group on Comparative Claims for Pesticide Products.

The work group was established for the specific purpose of making recommendations to the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs regarding the use of green claims in the promotion of EPA registered pesticide products. Historically, EPA has prohibited the use of environmentally preferable claims, including the use of eco-labels, in relation to any pesticide products including disinfectants and sanitizers.

EPA recently agreed to review its current policy at the prodding of ISSA and others that have argued that the marketplace demand for environmentally preferable cleaning products requires the Agency to develop a new policy that allows industry to make objective and verifiable claims regarding the environmental and safety and health attributes of their disinfectants and sanitizers.

To date the Comparative Claims Work Group has met twice, most recently on Oct. 6, and is moving forward quickly to finalize its recommendations about green claims in regard to institutional disinfectants and sanitizers. It is expected that a specific plan will be proposed and discussed at the work group’s next meeting in early December.

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