The Department of Agriculture is the regulator in Ireland for biocidal products – which are chemical substances or micro-organisms intended to destroy or render harmless any harmful organisms and include hand sanitisers, wipes and detergents. The Department has reminded people that only products listed on the Department’s Biocidal Product Register may be  placed on the market in Ireland (https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2020/october/title,154236,en.html).

These products should have a clearly visible PCS or IE-BPA or EU number on the label. Suppliers of biocidal products are legally required to ensure that their products are safe and effective. The Department advises that it has now become clear that there are some products on the market that are not properly registered. Where issues in relation to registration arise, the Department of Agriculture is taking appropriate action, on a precautionary basis. Subject to adherence to the usual safety guidelines in relation to products of this nature, and with the exception of products in the Virapro range, which have already been the subject of a recall, there is no reason to believe that the failure to register a product gives rise of itself  to specific concerns in relation to safety or efficacy.

For this reason the Department of Agriculture is not requiring members of the public to dispose of product already in their possession. People are, however, advised to ensure that future purchases bear one of the numbers referred to above. The Department advises that it is continuing to increase its testing of product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications.  Suppliers of products that are not correctly registered are being required  to withdraw product from sale until registration is regularised and the product is relabelled. Members of the Public seeking further information have been advised to e-mail the Department of Agriculture at HandSanitisers@agriculture.gov.ie.

You may be aware from media reports that the Department of Education has written to all schools to advise them of changes to the approved list of products on the Education Sector PPE procurement agreement. Following the Department of Agriculture instruction to cease the use of all ViraPro products on Friday 23 October, the Department of Education commenced a review of biocidal products included in the Education Sector PPE procurement agreement. The Department of Education is taking a number of products off the approved list for schools because it has not been possible to satisfactorily confirm their registration status as part of the review. The Department advises that it has no evidence that these products are unsafe.

The products that have been removed from the Department of Education’s procurement schedule are listed below. If you are using any of these products in connection with services provided under the School Transport Scheme or otherwise, you should contact the retailer or supplier and clarify if the products are being withdrawn from sale and if any return arrangements are in place. If you have concerns about individual products, you should contact the Department of Agriculture at the email address above.