Don’t anti-bacterial products and disinfectants contain biocides that can harm people and the environment?
Biocides are an important part of many cleaning products, but their role and effects can be confusing.
Here’s what’s going on – Controlling bacteria and germs is one of the most important hygiene tasks in a business, hospital, healthcare, and the products used to do that often contain biocides.
They sound scary, but they are carefully regulated and even occur in nature.
What is a biocide?
A biocide is defined by global legislation as a chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means. An example of a biocide is PHMB.
How are they regulated?
S-7XTRA, like all disinfectant cleaning products, uses a biocide to help you control bacteria and other germs.
S-7XTRA is carefully formulated and risk assessed to ensure that it complies with all regulatory requirments.
Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)
Steri-7 complies with the Australian international conventions and protocols to protect human health and the environment against the effects of hazardous chemicals under the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019., which controls all kinds of products from wood preservatives to fly spray, also requires all ingredients that are sold for their ability to control germs to be registered (REACH) with a full safety dossier.
Anti-bacterial products and disinfectants are there to help protect your health by preventing the spread of germs. S-7XTRA and every product that uses biocidal ingredients will also need to be registered, complete with its own full safety assessment. It will also have a full testing report to show it does what it says it does.
Are may common substances biocides?
Substances that can function as biocides can be hazardous, but some are common in the kitchen, including salt, vinegar, and alcohol.
Salt has been used to preserve food by controlling microbes for thousands of years; vinegar can kill some kinds of bacteria (though not enough to be a disinfectant) and pure alcohol is a very powerful germ killer.
If these were sold for their germ-killing properties, and not just to put on your food, they would have to be registered in the same way.
Advertising Regulations
Advertisements for biocidal products shall not refer to the product in a manner which is misleading in respect of the risks from the product to human health or the environment or its efficacy. In any case, the advertising of a biocidal product shall not mention ‘low risk biocidal product’, ‘harmless’, ‘natural’ or any similar indication.
Can Steri-7’s advertisements say its biocidal product is safe or harmless?
No. Australia follows international conventions and protocols to protect human health and the environment against the effects of hazardous chemicals under the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 and the claims you make must not mislead in respect of the risks of that biocidal product to humans, animals or the environment or efficacy and specifically prohibit the use of such words as ‘harmless’ or similar terms.
Can Steri-7’s advertisements say its biocidal products are natural or environmentally friendly?
No. As with all biocidal products. Australia follows international conventions and protocols to protect human health and the environment against the effects of hazardous chemicals under the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019. Advertising claims you make must not mislead in respect of the risks of that biocidal product to humans, animals or the environment or efficacy and specifically prohibit the use of such words as ‘natural’, ‘environmentally friendly’ ‘animal friendly’ or similar terms.
Is Reactive Barrier Technology helpful?
Steri-7 unique Reactive Barrier Technology (RBT) has allowed a significant reduction in the use of Biocidal disinfectants by reactivation in the presence of moisture reducing the need to constantly re-apply the biocide.
Steri-7 and PHMB
PHMB is a biocide which is regulated as all biocides.
Regulations state that cosmetic products are limited to 0.1% to 0.3% concentration of PHMB.
Steri-7 Ready to Use solutions and wipes for surfaces contain 0.09%.
Steri-7 products are listed and comply with the Australian Therapeutic Goods administration and comply with global biocidal directives and safety limits.