On September 6, 2017 the Food and Drug administration (FDA) final rule banning a list of 29 consumer antiseptic wash ingredients officially became in effect. This rule strictly bans the usage of certain ingredients commonly used in the manufacturing of products intended to be applied and rinsed off with water. It should be noted that this final rule has no effect on the manufacturing of consumer antiseptic rubs, commonly referred to as “hand sanitizers, “hand rubs” or “antibacterial wipes”. Similarly, this rule has no bearing on health care antiseptics, first aid antiseptics or antiseptics used in the food industry.
Although certain ingredients were temporarily deferred from this ruling, it is most likely only a matter of time before all consumer antiseptic wash products are banned.
Because of the stimulation of interest that the new rule has and will engender, Gibraltar has composed a paper on aspects of antiseptic science and have chosen to discuss four antiseptics of the many presented in the Federal Register. If you’d like to learn more about this topic and some common antiseptic/disinfectant ingredients we encourage you to get a copy of the article: “A review of consumer antiseptic wash ingredients undergoing FDA challenge” published in the Contract Pharma – September 2017 print and online edition. The digital version can be viewed by following the link below:
