Surface disinfectants for emerging viral pathogens

On this page

• What are emerging viral pathogens
• How a disinfectant works against EVPs
• List of surface disinfectants for EVPs
• For more information

What are emerging viral pathogens

Emerging viral pathogens (EVP) are viruses that have either:

• just appeared in a population or
• been around but are quickly increasing in numbers or geographic range

When an EVP first appears, there is a period of uncertainty whereby the length of time the virus can survive on surfaces and the contribution of surface transmission to overall disease transmission may not be known. Furthermore, few, if any authorized surface disinfectants will have been tested and approved for use against this virus during that time.

How effective a surface disinfectant is depends on 2 things:

1. the type of virus and
2. how a disinfectant product is used

There are 2 types of viruses:

1. enveloped
2. non-enveloped

Enveloped viruses have fat-based envelopes. Both the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and mpox viruses are enveloped viruses.

Non-enveloped viruses don't have fat-based envelopes (for example, norovirus and poliovirus).

Non-enveloped viruses are more resistant than enveloped viruses.

How a disinfectant works against EVPs

Surface disinfectants target fat-based envelopes. The act of targeting inactivates the virus.

Because non-enveloped viruses lack fat-based envelopes, they are more resistant to surface disinfectants.

Surface disinfectants that are effective against non-enveloped viruses will probably also be effective against enveloped viruses.

When an EVP emerges, Health Canada allows disinfectant manufacturers to reference existing information that we have on file for efficacy claims against non-enveloped viruses. The manufacturers can also let the public know how effective they believe their surface disinfectant is against the emerging virus.

It is important that these products are used following the directions for use on the product label.

List of surface disinfectants for EVPs

The "List of surface disinfectants for emerging viral pathogens" contains disinfectants approved by Health Canada. This means they are supported by evidence against an eligible non-enveloped virus.

As for any drug product approved by Health Canada for sale in Canada, these disinfectant products have a drug identification number (DIN). However, the EVP list is not comprehensive. It does not contain all disinfectants that may be appropriate for use in public, institutional or household spaces. Health Canada will update this list with additional products as evidence is provided from industry applicants.

Note that a product appearing on this list does not mean Health Canada has endorsed it.

How to determine if your disinfectant product is on Health Canada's List of surface disinfectants for emerging viral pathogens

• Locate the DIN on the disinfectant product label
• Search the DIN on the List of surface disinfectants for emerging viral pathogens

For more information

To find out if your disinfectant product is effective specifically against SARS-CoV-2, please refer to the List of disinfectants with evidence for use against COVID-19.

For more information about surface disinfectants for EVPs, consult our guidance document:

• Safety and efficacy requirements for surface disinfectant drugs

You may also contact our Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate by email: hc.nnhpd-dpsnso.sc@canada.ca.

You can also find more information on other approved disinfectants or drug products by visiting our searchable Drug Product Database.