Disclaimer: The label above is an artistic mock-up and does not represent any known brand on the market. You are however likely to see labels like this appearing more frequently in the coming months and years.
Covid-19 Disinfection Claims
Natural products – really?
Do you only buy products that assure you the contents are environmentally friendly or green? Absolutely would be many people’s answer. But did those same people actually check out what chemical substances went into the preparation of these products as well as their efficacy. Another factor in today’s fight against COVID-19 is whether products that guarantee they completely destroy this virus actually can.*
But if it’s on the label, it must do the job – right? Wrong.
“It’s about the science not the marketing with such products and whether they can scientifically prove their claims and above all whether these products, particularly in the disinfection area, are safe and as effective as they say,” explains Burt Rodrigues, CEO of Biodx. “Full compliance means these products meet the necessary regulatory requirements before they hit the market and affect people’s health and lives.
Rodrigues spent many years navigating his way through strict South African and more recently European regulations, to ensure his products meet the promises made on their labels. “After jumping through many hoops we eventually received authorisation from the SABS but even then we still had to meet a list of conditions.
This year Biodx will receive EU registration for Product Type 2 (PT2- disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals) and Product Type 4 (PT4- food and feed area disinfectants) enabling their products to be sold in Europe under the Biocide Product Register (BPR)**.
Check website information
“Most importantly when you go on to a chemical supplier company’s website you have to be able to download the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the product, showing its composition, corrosion levels and safety requirements. They need to comply to the claims made about their product and whether this matches with the labelling, as well as proving they meet their country’s requirements. In South Africa’s case this would be the SABS and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)***.
Right now with the rush to get product on the shelves to ‘kill Coronavirus’ many companies have skipped a few steps along the way in their desire to cash in on people’s fears. The reason for stringent registration compliance is to de-risk people’s exposure to harm. In the past there have been many products whose labels proudly display ‘certified by Green…’ with no information about the science behind the product, tests carried out or indeed any registration.
“You have to ask, what is the risk of a company selling a product that doesn’t meet its claims to kill this virus – this literally endangers people’s lives. It must be first about the science and then what is currently available that is proven to work. The user needs to know what has gone into the product and make sure it meets regulatory compliance. You’ve gone on lockdown to ensure your safety – take the products you use just as seriously,” concludes Rodrigues.
* NRCS CMM – Environmental protection – Disinfectants
** BPR Understanding – ECHA Website
*** NRCS Understanding – NRCS Website
*** NRCS Disinfectant Registration Database
EARTH DAY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
22/04/2020Phased End of Lockdown – will our staff be safe?
24/04/2020Disclaimer: The label above is an artistic mock-up and does not represent any known brand on the market. You are however likely to see labels like this appearing more frequently in the coming months and years.
Covid-19 Disinfection Claims
Natural products – really?
Do you only buy products that assure you the contents are environmentally friendly or green? Absolutely would be many people’s answer. But did those same people actually check out what chemical substances went into the preparation of these products as well as their efficacy. Another factor in today’s fight against COVID-19 is whether products that guarantee they completely destroy this virus actually can.*
But if it’s on the label, it must do the job – right? Wrong.
“It’s about the science not the marketing with such products and whether they can scientifically prove their claims and above all whether these products, particularly in the disinfection area, are safe and as effective as they say,” explains Burt Rodrigues, CEO of Biodx. “Full compliance means these products meet the necessary regulatory requirements before they hit the market and affect people’s health and lives.
Rodrigues spent many years navigating his way through strict South African and more recently European regulations, to ensure his products meet the promises made on their labels. “After jumping through many hoops we eventually received authorisation from the SABS but even then we still had to meet a list of conditions.
This year Biodx will receive EU registration for Product Type 2 (PT2- disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals) and Product Type 4 (PT4- food and feed area disinfectants) enabling their products to be sold in Europe under the Biocide Product Register (BPR)**.
Check website information
“Most importantly when you go on to a chemical supplier company’s website you have to be able to download the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the product, showing its composition, corrosion levels and safety requirements. They need to comply to the claims made about their product and whether this matches with the labelling, as well as proving they meet their country’s requirements. In South Africa’s case this would be the SABS and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)***.
Right now with the rush to get product on the shelves to ‘kill Coronavirus’ many companies have skipped a few steps along the way in their desire to cash in on people’s fears. The reason for stringent registration compliance is to de-risk people’s exposure to harm. In the past there have been many products whose labels proudly display ‘certified by Green…’ with no information about the science behind the product, tests carried out or indeed any registration.
“You have to ask, what is the risk of a company selling a product that doesn’t meet its claims to kill this virus – this literally endangers people’s lives. It must be first about the science and then what is currently available that is proven to work. The user needs to know what has gone into the product and make sure it meets regulatory compliance. You’ve gone on lockdown to ensure your safety – take the products you use just as seriously,” concludes Rodrigues.
* NRCS CMM – Environmental protection – Disinfectants
** BPR Understanding – ECHA Website
*** NRCS Understanding – NRCS Website
*** NRCS Disinfectant Registration Database
biodx-admin
Related posts
BeH20 partnering with Biodx to promote a better future
Read more
Research and Development for a better tomorrow
Read more
Protecting Team Qhubeka NextHash at the Vuelta a Espana
Read more