Policy Markets Treatments and Prevention

Defra-Approved Disinfectant: When and How to Use it

Find out when you must use a Defra approved disinfectant, which product to use, and in what concentration.

7 July 2014

2 minute read

Europe

Disinfectant use for notifiable diseases

By law, you must use a Defra-approved disinfectant when there is an outbreak of a notifiable disease.

The list of Defra approved disinfectants will show you which product to use, and the concentration of the disinfectant you must use. Some products can be used at different concentrations for different diseases.

Disinfectant use for routine cleaning and disinfecting

You must also use Defra-approved disinfectants at the dilution rate shown on the general order list when doing routine cleaning and disinfecting:

livestock transport vehicles
animal gathering areas (markets and fairs)
abattoir vehicles and animal holding areas as part of the regular cleaning routine

Disinfectant use for kennels, catteries and vets surgeries

There is no legal need to use a Defra approved disinfectant if you run a vets surgery, kennel or cattery, unless there is an outbreak of a notifiable animal disease.

Disinfectant approval

There is more information on the Defra disinfectant approval process and on the product effectiveness tests used to asses products for Defra approval.

Laws on disinfectant use

The relevant laws on disinfectant use are called disease orders. There are four specific disease orders for the following diseases:

Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003 (in Scotland and in Wales) and Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No 2) Order 2006 (in Scotland and in Wales)
Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations 2009 (in Scotland and in Wales)
Foot and Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006 (in Scotland and in Wales)
Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007 (in Scotland and in Wales)

A general order is issued to control an outbreak of notifiable disease not covered in this list. For example, Defra could order approved disinfectants to be used to control an outbreak of Bluetongue virus.