Ottawa – As defined in the Biocides Regulations (regulations), biocides are drugs that are used to destroy or inactivate micro-organisms or reduce or control their number on a non-living and non-liquid surface. They help to prevent micro-organisms from spreading and reduce health risks. In other words, biocides are surface disinfectants and sanitizers.
Biocides come in formats that can be ready to use or that require mixing with water first.
There are biocides for different settings, for example:
- health care facilities
- such as in patient care areas and on non-invasive medical equipment
- food premises
- such as on countertops and cutting boards
- animal housing areas
- such as in veterinary clinics and poultry plants
- institutional settings
- such as in daycares, schools and office buildings
- household areas
- such as for toilet bowls
Some biocides should only be used by trained professionals.
Biocides do not include products that are used:
- in air or water
- on contact lenses
- on invasive or indirectly invasive medical devices or
- exclusively on the surface of food
Using biocides safely
Heath Canada only authorizes a biocide for sale if its benefits outweigh its risks, taking into account related uncertainties. This does not mean that biocides are free of risk. Risks may include:
- unwanted side effects, like allergic reactions
- improper storage, leading to unintentional exposure to children
- interactions with other chemical products like cleaners
- manufacturing problems
- like contamination, incorrect ingredients or dosage
Take these steps to minimize your risk:
- Only use approved products.
- Read and follow all instructions on the product label.
- Keep biocides and other health or chemical products out of reach of children.
- Do not use a biocide at the same time as other chemical products such as cleaners, unless the products are specifically labelled for use together.
- Never use these products on human or animal skin or internally as this could cause serious harm.
- for example, do not swallow or inject these products
Learn more:
You should report any side effects to your health care provider and to Health Canada.
Reporting side effects helps us:
- identify rare or serious side effects
- make changes in product safety information
- issue public warnings and advisories and
- remove unsafe products from the Canadian market
Authorized biocides
A biocide may currently be authorized under the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) or the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA).
Authorized biocides include:
- a surface disinfectant or disinfectant-sanitizer with an 8-digit number that follow the letters “DIN” on its label if the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) has authorized the product under the FDR
- a surface sanitizer with a registration number on its label if the Pest Management Regulatory Agency has registered the product under the PCPA
- the number will appear on the label as:
- Registration No. (assigned registration number) Pest control products act or
- Reg. No. (assigned registration number) P.C.P. Act
- the number will appear on the label as:
Search these databases:
- Pesticide Product Information Database for registered sanitizers
- Drug Product Database for disinfectants authorized under the FDR