Covered Products
This specification covers concentrated and ready-to-use hard surface disinfectant and sanitizer products including non-food-contact surface sanitizers.
Definitions
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization dedicated to promoting international collaboration in cancer research.
National Toxicology Program (NTP) - is an interagency program established in 1978 to coordinate toxicology research and testing across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program was created to strengthen the science base in toxicology, develop and validate improved testing methods, and provide information about potentially toxic chemicals to health regulatory and research agencies, scientific and medical communities, and the public. It maintains an objective, science-based approach in dealing with critical issues in toxicology.
California Proposition 65 - known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires the State of California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment follows a rigorous scientific and open public process to evaluate available scientific information, and lists chemicals based on recommendations from State committees of scientists and health professionals, presence on an authoritative list of chemicals of concern (e.g. IARC or NTP), identification by a state or federal agency as a carcinogen or teratogen, or satisfaction of certain criteria defined in the California Labor Code.
Standard Setting and Certification Programs
Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) - is a non-profit organization committed to improving the practice of occupational and environmental health through information sharing and collaborative research.
Design for the Environment – is a program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that verifies that antimicrobial products have been registered with EPA as a pesticide and meet certain criteria to protect human health and the environment.
Green Seal - is a non-profit, independent, third-party standard setting and certification organization that follows the Guiding Principles and Procedures for Type I Environmental Labeling adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14024). Green Seal has developed environmental standards and certifies products for more than 40 major product categories.
UL EcoLogo - is an independent, third-party standard setting and certification program that follows the Guiding Principles and Procedures for North American Type I Environmental Labeling adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14024). Since its establishment in 1988, EcoLogo has been recognized or referenced in more than 350 specifications and standards.
Specifications
Only Use Disinfectants or Sanitizers When Necessary
It is recommended that affected entities prioritize green cleaning first, and only use disinfectants or sanitizers when necessary. Certain circumstances (e.g., blood spills and infection control) and locations (e.g., healthcare, childcare, and food service settings) may require special disinfectant or sanitation practices that are prescribed by existing laws, regulations or professional guidance. These specifications do not supersede or change existing health, labor, environmental, social services, or educational regulations or guidance related to disinfection and sanitation practices. For more information on best practices for green cleaning and examples of state and federal regulations and guidance on disinfection and sanitation, see the New York State green cleaning website at https://greencleaning.ny.gov/.
Purchasing Disinfectants and Sanitizers
Affected entities are encouraged to purchase disinfectants and sanitizers that meet the following specifications to the extent practicable, consistent with existing laws and professional guidance issued by the State Departments of Health, Labor, Environmental Conservation, and Education.
Hard-Surface Disinfectants and Sanitizers
All affected entities shall, to the maximum extent practicable, purchase hard-surface disinfectants and sanitizers that meet the following criteria:
- Registration by EPA pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as a hard surface disinfectant or non-food-contact surface sanitizer. Every pesticide product which is used, distributed, sold, or offered for sale in New York State must also be registered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Products requiring New York State registration include basic U.S. EPA registrations, supplemental (distributor) registrations and additional brand names.
- Antimicrobial mold and mildew cleaners must be EPA-registered as a fungicide against Aspergillis niger or as a mildewstat.
- Avoidance of active ingredients classified as known, suspected, reasonably anticipated, or probable human carcinogens per the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP) or the State of California.
- Avoidance of active ingredients classified as chemicals known to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm per the State of California Proposition 65.
- Avoid asthmagens per the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) List with a G (Generally Accepted), Rs (Sensitizer), Rr (RADS), or Rrs (both) designation), except for food-contact surface sanitizers that may contain a combination of peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide (which is labeled as an asthmagen by the AOEC).
- Avoidance of active ingredients in the chemical class of nonyl phenol ethoxylates or other alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs).
- Avoidance of products containing fragrances
- Can only contain the following acceptable active ingredients:
- Caprylic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC: only food grade) with CAS #2893-78-9. Must be able to maintain a pH from 4-6.5 and can only be sold in tab form.
- Ethanol
- Glycolic Acid
- Hydrogen Peroxide (including accelerated hydrogen peroxide)
- Hypochlorus Acid (in ready-to-use formulations only)
- Isopropanol
- L-Lactic Acid
- Sodium Chloride
- Peroxyacetic Acid (approved for food contact surface and laundry products only)
- Can only contain the following acceptable active ingredient when being used as a food surface sanitizer and there are no other products available containing acceptable ingredients from the above list:
- Thyme Oil
- All concentrated disinfectants and sanitizers should be designed and packaged as a Closed Loop Dilution-Control System, that meets the following requirements unless the product is in a portion-controlled package:
- No open containers. The container must have "spill-resistant packaging" that requires coupling to a specially designed device in order to dispense the product.
- The container should not be able to be "practically accessed" during routine use. The packaging should not allow for access or exposure to the concentrated product after opening a cap or lid, or before or while connecting to the dispensing system.
- The container should contain a backflow prevention system that meets the current American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) 1055 standard.
All affected entities are encouraged, to the maximum extent practicable, to purchase hard-surface disinfectants and sanitizers that meet the following criteria:
- Third-party certified by Green Seal or EPA’s Design for the Environment
Packaging
Packaging shall comply with Environmental Conservation Law section 37-0205. Packaging shall not contain inks, dyes, pigments, adhesives, stabilizers, or any other additives to which any lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium is intentionally added or contain incidental concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium which together are greater than 100 parts per million by weight (0.01%). New York State encourages affected entities to adopt the following:
- The use of bulk packaging.
- The use of reusable packaging.
- The use of innovative packaging that reduces the weight of packaging, reduces packaging waste or utilizes packaging that is a component of the product.
- That all packaging remain the property of the supplier and not become the property of the affected state entity under any circumstance or condition. The vendor shall certify that the packaging material will be reused, recycled, or composted, and managed in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
- Packaging that maximizes recycled content and/or meets or exceeds the minimum post-consumer content level for packaging in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines.
- Packaging that is recyclable or compostable.
Updated Specification Passed: December 14, 2022