2.

Agency responsible: US Environmental Protection Agency

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Antimicrobial products intended to treat bacterial public health pathogens with pre-saturated/impregnated towelettes on hard, non-porous surfaces

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X]     All trading partners

[ ]      Specific regions or countries:

5.

Title of the notified document: Pesticides; Draft Guidance; Evaluating the Efficacy of Pre- Saturated/Impregnated Antimicrobial Towelettes for Disinfection Claims; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment. Language(s): English. Number of pages: 1

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-20/html/2024-27058.htm

6.

Description of content: The Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of and soliciting comment on its draft guidance for adding disinfectant efficacy claims against bacteria to antimicrobial towelettes for use on hard non-porous surfaces. Specifically, the guidance document describes a pathway for efficacy testing using a new standardized method designed specifically for antimicrobial towelettes, how to prepare an application for registration, and regulatory guidance for pesticidal claims for those products.

7.

Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.

8.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ]        Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text):

[ ]        World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number):

[ ]        International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):

[X]       None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[ ] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): 20 November 2024

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): 20 November 2024

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): 20 November 2024

[ ]      Trade facilitating measure

12.

Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 21 January 2025

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

Comments should be submitted to the US EPA's WTO SPS team at [email protected].

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-20/html/2024-27058.htm