Now Available Under Envirocare’s SANAS-Accredited Flexible Scope
As disinfectant regulations evolve, so do the testing requirements manufacturers must meet. While bactericidal and fungicidal efficacy testing remain essential, many products now require accredited testing against additional microorganisms, application areas and internationally recognised standards.
To meet these changing industry requirements, Envirocare Laboratory has expanded its SANAS-accredited Flexible Scope for chemical disinfectant efficacy testing.
This expansion provides manufacturers, formulators and quality professionals with access to a broader range of accredited efficacy tests across the food, industrial, domestic, institutional, medical and veterinary sectors, all supported by the quality requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
Whether you are developing a new disinfectant, entering a regulated market or responding to updated customer specifications, Envirocare now offers more accredited testing options than ever before.
Why Is Chemical Disinfectant Efficacy Testing Expanding?
Disinfectants are no longer developed for a single application.
Products used in food processing facilities, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, hospitals, veterinary clinics and industrial manufacturing environments all have different performance requirements.
Regulators and customers increasingly require laboratory evidence demonstrating efficacy against specific groups of microorganisms, including:
- Bacteria
- Yeasts
- Fungi
- Bacterial spores
- Viruses
Many products must also demonstrate efficacy under different testing conditions, including suspension tests and surface tests, depending on where the disinfectant will be used.
As these requirements continue to expand, manufacturers need access to laboratories capable of performing a broader range of accredited efficacy studies.
What Is a SANAS Flexible Scope?
Most accredited laboratories operate under a fixed scope of accreditation, where each individual test method must be specifically listed before accredited results can be issued.
Whenever a new or revised testing standard becomes available, laboratories operating under a fixed scope may need to wait for an external assessment before offering the method under accreditation.
Envirocare’s Flexible Scope of Accreditation allows closely related methods to be incorporated within defined technical boundaries through a controlled verification process while maintaining compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and SANAS requirements.
For our clients, this means faster access to newly recognised testing methods without compromising scientific quality, technical competence or accreditation.
Rather than being restricted to a static list of methods, our accredited disinfectant testing capabilities can evolve alongside industry standards.
Envirocare’s Expanded Chemical Disinfectant Efficacy Testing
Building on our existing SANAS-accredited bactericidal and fungicidal testing services, Envirocare now offers an expanded portfolio of chemical disinfectant efficacy tests.
Our laboratory performs validated dilution-neutralisation methods for evaluating:
- Chemical disinfectants
- Antiseptics
- Detergents
Testing is available for products intended for:
- Food manufacturing
- Beverage production
- Industrial hygiene
- Domestic applications
- Institutional cleaning
- Healthcare facilities
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Veterinary applications
- Agriculture
- Animal production
Expanded Accredited Testing Standards
Food, Industrial, Domestic and Institutional Applications
| Test | Standard |
|---|---|
| Bactericidal efficacy | SANS 51276 / EN 1276 |
| Fungicidal and Yeasticidal efficacy | SANS 51650 / EN 1650 |
| Virucidal efficacy* | SANS 53610 / EN 13610* |
| Sporicidal efficacy | SANS 53704 / EN 13704 |
| Surface efficacy | SANS 53697 / EN 13697 |
Medical Applications
| Test | Standard |
|---|---|
| Bactericidal efficacy | EN 13727 |
| Fungicidal and Yeasticidal efficacy | EN 13624 |
| Sporicidal efficacy | EN 17126 |
| Surface efficacy | EN 17387 |
Veterinary Applications
| Test | Standard |
|---|---|
| Bactericidal efficacy | EN 1656 |
| Fungicidal and Yeasticidal efficacy | EN 1657 |
| Surface efficacy | EN 16437 |
| Surface Fungicidal / Yeasticidal efficacy | EN 16438 |
*Available within the defined boundaries of Envirocare’s SANAS-accredited Flexible Scope.
Which Standard Do You Need?
Selecting the correct efficacy standard depends on both the product and its intended application.
| Industry | Typical Standards |
|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | SANS 51276, SANS 51650, EN 13697 |
| Industrial & Institutional | EN 1276, EN 1650, EN 13697 |
| Medical | EN 13727, EN 13624, EN 17126, EN 17387 |
| Veterinary | EN 1656, EN 1657, EN 16437, EN 16438 |
Our technical specialists can help identify the most appropriate accredited method based on your product formulation, intended use and regulatory requirements.
What Does This Mean for Manufacturers?
The expansion of our disinfectant efficacy testing capabilities provides manufacturers with greater flexibility when validating products for different industries and markets.
Instead of working with multiple laboratories, organisations can access a broader range of accredited efficacy testing through a single laboratory partner.
Benefits include:
- Expanded SANAS-accredited testing capabilities
- Support for recognised SANS and EN standards
- Faster implementation of additional accredited methods within the flexible scope
- Technical guidance when selecting the appropriate testing standard
- Confidence in results generated under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 quality systems
Supporting Multiple Industries
Our expanded disinfectant efficacy testing supports:
- Cleaning chemical manufacturers
- Food and beverage producers
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Healthcare providers
- Veterinary product manufacturers
- Agricultural businesses
- Hospitality groups
- Industrial sanitation companies
- Institutional hygiene suppliers
Already Looking for Routine SANS Testing?
Envirocare continues to provide routine SANS 51276 bactericidal and SANS 51650 fungicidal and yeasticidal efficacy testing with fast turnaround times for standard projects.
If your requirements are limited to these routine methods, we recommend reading our service article:
Accredited Disinfectant Testing with 5-Day Turnaround: SANS 51276 & SANS 51650
Likewise, if you’re looking for a broader understanding of study design, regulatory expectations and efficacy validation, see our article on Understanding Chemical Disinfectant Validation.
Partner with Envirocare Laboratory
As disinfectant technologies continue to evolve, so do the testing standards that support them. Envirocare’s expanded SANAS-accredited Flexible Scope ensures that manufacturers have access to a growing range of recognised efficacy methods without compromising scientific quality or regulatory confidence.
Whether you’re validating a new formulation, preparing for export, or responding to updated customer requirements, our experienced team can help you identify the most appropriate accredited testing solution.
Contact Envirocare Laboratory
📞 +27 18 294 4283
References
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2019. BS EN 1276:2019 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2019. BS EN 1650:2019 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2019. BS EN 13697:2019 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2020. BS EN 13727:2015+A2:2020 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the medical area. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2019. BS EN 13624:2013+A2:2019 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the medical area. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2019. BS EN 1656:2019 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the veterinary area. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2020. BS EN 1657:2016+A1:2020 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the veterinary area. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2018. BS EN 17126:2018 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of sporicidal activity in the medical area. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2018. BS EN 16437:2014+A2:2018 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the veterinary area. London: BSI.
- British Standards Institution (BSI). 2018. BS EN 16438:2014+A2:2018 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative surface test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the veterinary area. London: BSI.
- European Committee for Standardization (CEN). 2018. EN 14885:2018 Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics – Application of European Standards for Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics. Brussels: CEN.
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 2017. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Geneva: ISO.
- National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). 2017. VC8054:2017 Compulsory Specification for Chemical Disinfectants. Pretoria: NRCS.
- South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). 2024. TR 49-05: Technical Requirements for Laboratories Operating a Flexible Scope of Accreditation. Pretoria: SANAS.
- South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). South African National Standards (SANS) Catalogue. Pretoria: SABS.
