Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVPs): List Q

• Products with Emerging Viral Pathogens Claims
• How to Choose a Product
• How to Effectively Use Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens
• How to Check if a Certain Product has EVP Claims
• List of Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVPs)

Products with Emerging Viral Pathogens Claims

When rare or novel viruses cause outbreaks of disease, there may be few if any disinfectants that have been tested and registered for use against that specific pathogen. To prepare for situations like these, EPA created the EVP guidance, a voluntary process which allows disinfectant manufacturers to submit data to EPA demonstrating a product’s efficacy against difficult-to-inactivate viruses. 

In the event of an outbreak that meets certain criteria, EPA triggers the EVP guidance for a specific virus. In doing so, EPA authorizes companies whose products have EVP claims to make statements on their websites, social media, and technical literature about their product’s expected efficacy against the emerging virus. 

How to Choose a Product

Some viruses are more difficult to kill than others, and a disinfectant’s effectiveness can change based on how you use it.

Follow these steps to ensure you choose an appropriate product and use it effectively.

First, determine which disinfectants are expected to be effective against the virus you intend to inactivate.

The EVP guidance divides viruses into three categories: 

• Tier 1: Enveloped viruses are the easiest to inactivate. When disinfectants damage their lipid envelope, the virus is no longer infectious. 
• Tier 2: Large, nonenveloped viruses are encased in protein capsids that make them more difficult to inactivate compared to enveloped viruses. 
• Tier 3: Small, nonenveloped viruses are the hardest to inactivate. Both their protein capsids and their small size make them less vulnerable to disinfectants compared to other viruses.

To find disinfectants for use against the emerging virus you intend to kill, you need to know which category that virus falls into. The EVP guidance currently applies to the following viruses.

Next, use the filters on the list below. For example, if you intend to kill a Tier 2 virus, go to “For use on Tier 2 viruses?” and choose "yes.”

How to Effectively Use Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens

Because some viruses are more difficult to inactivate than others, disinfectant labels may have different directions for different pathogens. Since rare or novel diseases may not be listed on a product’s label, you need to determine which set of directions to follow in order to kill the EVP. 

On the list below, the column “Follow directions for the following pathogen(s)” tells you which set of directions to look for on the product label. For example, the table may indicate that a product is expected to inactivate EVPs if you follow the label directions for rotavirus.

How to Check if a Certain Product has EVP Claims

• Disinfectant products may be marketed and sold under different brand and product names.
• You can use the list below to determine whether a disinfectant product is registered for use against EVPs using the product’s registration number.
• First, find the registration number on the product label. Look for “EPA Reg. No.” followed by two or three sets of numbers.
• If your product's registration number has two parts (ex. 1234-12), it has a primary registration number. If this number is on List Q, the product is qualified for use against EVPs.
• If your product's registration number has three parts (ex. 1234-12-123), you have a supplemental distributor product. These products have the same chemical composition and efficacy as primary products, but often have different brand or product names. If the first two parts of this registration number (ex. 1234-12) are on List Q, the product is qualified for use against EVPs. (The first two parts of this registration number reflect the primary registration, while the third identifies the distributor’s EPA company number.)
• Regardless of whether you are using a primary registration product or a supplemental distributor product, always check that the product's label includes directions for use for the pathogen on List Q.

List of Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVPs)

Products on this list have emerging viral pathogen claims. Use the table above to determine whether the pathogen you intend to kill falls into Tier 1, 2, or 3. Then, use the filters to identify products appropriate to your needs.

Information about listed products is current as of the date on this list. Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement by EPA. All claims and/or marketing statements for products on List Q should conform to the terms of registration found in the Emerging Viral Pathogen guidance. All claims and/or marketing statements shall be made only through technical literature distributed exclusively to health care facilities, physicians, nurses and public health officials, “1-800” consumer information services, social media sites and company websites. These statements shall not appear on marketed product labels.

If you are the registration holder and believe your product qualifies for inclusion on this list, please email disinfectantslist@epa.gov. 

EPA Registration Number
Active Ingredient(s)
Product Name
Company
Contact Time (in minutes)
Formulation Type
Surface Types
For use on Tier 1 viruses?
For use on Tier 2 viruses?
For use on Tier 3 viruses?
Follow directions for the following pathogens
Surface Type (Hospital; Industrial; Residential; Veternary; Animal Housing)