Gretchen Schaefer
202.833.7311
Statement from CSPA President Regarding U.S. EPA’s Posting of Antimicrobial Testing Program List
WASHINGTON, DC (June 12, 2009) – The following statement was issued by Chris Cathcart, President of the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posting to its website a listing of hospital disinfectants that have been tested under the agency’s Antimicrobial Testing Program (ATP).
“EPA-registered antimicrobial products help protect public health and are literally lifesavers as they play an important role in disease control and infection prevention. Modern hospital sanitation depends heavily on specialized disinfectants that are among the strongest and most carefully applied of all antimicrobials in use today and are used to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, spores and fungi.
“CSPA has confidence in the EPA registration process and our companies are committed to meeting all regulatory requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). FIFRA requires that when EPA registers an antimicrobial product that it approves the product’s label, which includes information on product efficacy, directions for use, storage and disposal, and hazard warnings and precautions.
“Not all marketed hospital disinfectant products have yet been tested as part of this program, and, therefore, the list may not include all registered hospital disinfectants. Additionally, new products or products that have not yet been tested will not be on the list and some products on the list may no longer be available in the marketplace.”
About CSPA
The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) is the premier trade association representing the interests of approximately 240 companies engaged in the manufacture, formulation, distribution and sale of approximately $80 billion annually in the U.S. of hundreds of familiar consumer products that help household, institutional and industrial customers create cleaner and healthier environments. Our products include disinfectants that kill germs in homes, hospitals and restaurants; candles, fragrances and air fresheners that eliminate odors; pest management products for home and garden; cleaning products for use throughout the home; products used to protect and improve the performance and appearance of automobiles; and a host of other products used every day. Through its product stewardship program Product CareSM, scientific and business-to-business endeavors, CSPA provides its members a platform to effectively address issues regarding the health, safety, sustainability and environmental impacts of their products. For more information, please visit www.cspa.org.
