Surface Disinfectants

Approved December 11, 2025

Covered Products

This specification covers hard and soft surface disinfectants approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency to kill bacteria, viruses and/or fungi, including:

• Concentrated (dilutable) surface disinfectants
• Ready-to-use liquid surface disinfectants
• Disinfecting toilet bowl cleaners
• Laundry and upholstery disinfectants

Exclusions

• Food-contact surface sanitizers
• Non-food-contact surface sanitizers
• Non-disinfecting cleaners
• Disinfectant generating and delivery devices
• Hand sanitizers, see GreenNY Specification: Hand Sanitizers
• Antibacterial hand soaps
• Water-disinfecting chemicals
• Products that are designed to kill pathogens on medical instruments or equipment (e.g., sterilants)

Surface disinfection is a highly regulated activity in health care, food service, and childcare settings. These specifications do not supersede or change existing health and education regulations, and professional guidance related to surface disinfection practices.

Minimum Requirements

Products MUST have the following sustainability attributes:

• Registered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and listed in the NYSPAD database
• Only contain one or more of the following acceptable active ingredients:
  • Citric, Glycolic/Caprylic and L-Lactic acid
  • Ethanol and Isopropanol
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Thymol/Thyme oil
• Not packaged in an aerosol container

Additional Desirable Attributes

Products are ENCOURAGED to have one or more of the following sustainability attributes:

• Certified by Green Seal or the US EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program
• Concentrated as well as designed and packaged in spill-resistant packaging for use in a closed-loop dilution-control system
• Not a disposable wipe
• Dye-free
• Fragrance-free
• Made by a Certified B Corp
• Made in the USA

Many products meeting this GreenNY Specification align with the following NYS sustainability policies:

• Executive Order 22: Leading by Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program
• Pollution Prevention Policy
• Procurement and Use of Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Facility Maintenance Products
• Prohibition on the Distribution, Sale, and Use of Household Cleansing Products Containing 1,4-dioxane and Phosphorus

• GreenNY Sustainability Certifications and Standards
• GreenNY Sustainable Purchasing Definitions
• NYS Sustainability Policies
• Product Specific Resources
  • New York State Pesticide Administration Database (NYSPAD)
    Users can search this database to access currently registered pesticides (including disinfectants) in New York State.
  • US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    This website can be used to identify the active ingredient(s) in surface disinfectants.
  • US EPA’s Pesticide Product Label Service (PPLS)
    Users can type the US EPA registration number for a surface disinfectant product into this website to access the official label, which includes details about the product’s active ingredients, efficacy, etc.

To support compliance with NYS policies and GreenNY procurement requirements, contract managers are encouraged to incorporate the GreenNY Sample Contract Language into bid solicitations and contracts. The GreenNY sample contract language covers the following topics:

• GreenNY Sales Reporting
• Packaging Language
• Product Labeling per GreenNY Specifications
• Takeback Services
• Verification of Vendor Compliance with GreenNY Requirements and Documentation of Desirable Attributes and Other Environmental Claims

Product-Specific Sample Contract Language

In addition to the GreenNY Sample Contract Language, contract managers are encouraged to include the following language in vendor contracts involving Surface Disinfectants:

Pursuant to NYS Prohibition on the Distribution, sale, and use of household cleansing products containing 1,4-dioxane and phosphorus law (ECL § 35-0105) no household cleansing products containing 1,4 dioxane exceeding 1 ppm can be sold or offered for sale in New York State. At the request of the purchaser, the vendor must provide verification of compliance with ECL § 35-0105.

Verification documentation may cover multiple products that are distributed, sold, or offered for sale by an individual vendor. The following types of verification documentation will be accepted:

• Third-party certification
• Product test results
• Compliance certification or affidavit signed by the manufacturer
• Other acceptable documentation as approved by the purchaser

Note: While the required certifications in the applicable GreenNY specifications restrict 1,4-dioxane to 100ppm, New York State law prohibits 1,4-dioxane above 1ppm in household cleaning products

• Dye-Free – A product that does not contain chemicals that impart color.
• Fragrance-Free – The absence of chemicals in a product that impart or counteract an odor or scent. This is different than “unscented,” which means a product has no scent, but may contain chemicals that neutralize or mask the odors of other ingredients.
• Surface Disinfectant – A chemical agent that is used on hard surfaces, especially in restrooms, to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi)