SSH EN 13704:2002

Chemical disinfectants - Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of sporicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas - Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 1)

Scope

This European Standard specifies a test method (phase 2/step 1) (see annex H) and the minimum requirements for sporicidal activity of chemical disinfectant products that form a homogeneous, physically stable preparation in hard water and that are used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas, excluding areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and excluding products used on living tissues except those for hand hygiene in the above considered areas.
This European Standard applies at least to the following :
a) processing, distribution and retailing of :
1) food of animal origin :
- milk and milk products ;
- meat and meat products ;
- fish, seafood, and related products ;
- eggs and egg products ;
- animal feeds ;
- etc. ;
2) food of vegetable origin :
- beverages ;
- fruits, vegetables and derivatives (including sugar, distillery, etc.) ;
- flour, milling and baking ;
- animal feeds ;
- etc. ;
b) institutional and domestic areas :
- catering establishments ;
- public areas ;
- public transports ;
- schools ;
- nurseries ;
- shops ;
- sports rooms ;
- waste containers (bins, etc.) ;
- hotels ;
- dwellings ;
- clinically non sensitive areas of hospitals ;
- offices ;
- etc. ;
c) other industrial areas :
- packaging material ;
- biotechnology (yeast, proteins, enzymes, etc.) ;
- pharmaceutical ;
- cosmetics and toiletries ;
- textiles ;
- space industry, computer industry ;
- etc.
Using this European Standard, it is not possible to determine the sporicidal activity of undiluted product as some dilution is always produced by adding the inoculum and interfering substance. Products can only be tested at a concentration of 80 % or less.
NOTE The method described is intended to determine the activity of commercial formulations or active substances on spores in the conditions in which they are used.