For Release: June 17, 2015

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released draft product performance test guidelines for “Series 810 – Product Performance Test Guidelines for Public Health Uses of Antimicrobial Agents” for public review and comment. The three draft guidelines are:

• OCSPP 810.2000 – General Considerations for Testing Antimicrobial Agents
• OCSPP 810.2100 – Sterilants and Sporicides – Recommendations for Efficacy Testing
• OCSPP 810.2200 – Disinfectants for Use on Hard Surfaces – Efficacy Data Recommendations

The Agency last issued product performance test guidelines for antimicrobial agents in 2012. These new draft guidelines have been reformatted to be more user friendly, correct technical information, and include updates from several antimicrobial testing policy documents issued since 2012 (e.g., policy on lower certified limits). These are the guidelines most important to public health. The remaining 810 guidelines will be addressed at a later date.

The 61-day public comment period will end on August 17, 2015. To review the draft test guidelines and to comment, go to docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0276 at www.regulations.gov.