EPA Issues Advisory on Disinfectants Making False and Misleading COVID-19 Claims

For Release: June 1, 2020

This week, EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance released a compliance advisory on products claiming to kill SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The advisory reiterates that disinfectant products that claim to kill viruses must be registered with EPA before they can be sold. Pesticide products cannot legally make claims that they kill a particular pathogen such as SARS-CoV-2 unless EPA has authorized the claim during the registration process. The full text of the advisory can be found here.

EPA is receiving a steady stream of tips and complaints concerning potentially false or misleading claims, including efficacy claims, associated with pesticides and devices. EPA is actively reviewing these claims and is working to identify others. EPA intends to pursue enforcement for those products making false and misleading claims regarding SARS-CoV-2. You can report tips to EPA here.