EPA Update on Zimek Disinfectant Products

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The IAFF is providing this update and clarification at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region II regarding its "Stop Sale, Use and Removal Order" issued to Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) on January 4, 2011.

This Order was issued specifically to MONOC and applies only to MONOC. However, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) still requires the use of pesticides (in this case disinfectant products) to be consistent with the EPA-approved label for such products.

EPA, Region II has now informed the IAFF that it is the "EPA's position that the labels for the pesticides Zimek is selling for use with its system do not contain language that would allow such use," and therefore, "any such use by any user [emphasis in original] would be a violation of FIFRA, although not a violation of the Order issued to MONOC."

The EPA-registered products used with the Zimek equipment that are addressed in the MONOC Order have not been accepted for registration bearing directions for application as a microparticle, nanoparticle or a "sub-micron" fog.

Further, the EPA states that there is no general prohibition that exists on the use of the Zimek microparticle disinfecting systems alone.

The IAFF has discussed this issue with representatives from Zimek and will be meeting with them in the near future to further address the issue. The IAFF will continue to monitor and participate in this effort and will provide updates as they become available.

Republished with permission of the International Association of Fire Fighters. View original article here.



Author:IAFF