Get your disinfectant approved by Defra

If there is an outbreak of a notifiable animal or zoonotic disease, only Defra approved disinfectants can be used to clean and disinfect hard surfaces. Hard surfaces include buildings, farm equipment, crates and vehicles.

You are breaking the law if you market and sell a disinfectant as Defra approved when it has not been tested and listed as approved.

To get your product approved by Defra, it must:

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) approves disinfectants on behalf of Defra.

Defra and APHA cannot advise you which formulation or dilution will pass the tests, or which categories you should apply for.

Check what is covered under approval for:

The swine vesicular disease category only covers approval of disinfectants for use with swine vesicular disease. Other diseases listed within The Diseases of Swine Regulations 2014 are covered under ‘other notifiable disease requirements’, also known as ‘General Orders’.

You must make sure your product meets Health and Safety Executive (HSE) standards on:

To apply for testing, complete the DDA1 application form and email a signed copy to Defra Disinfectants Approvals Administration at APHA: [email protected].

If you have any questions or need to post your form, email [email protected].

APHA will assess your application and decide if your product can be accepted for testing for Defra approval. They aim to reply within 5 working days.

Download details of the APHA efficacy methodologies (PDF, 189 KB, 7 pages)

If APHA accepts your product for testing, they will tell you where to send your samples and send you an invoice for the tests you want.

Do not submit a sample until APHA asks you to.