The biocidal products committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has said it will not approve for use across the European Union (EU) three silver-based biocides which could be used in textile finishing. These include silver zeolite, silver copper zeolite and silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate – all potentially incorporated in treated textiles, tissues and masks with disinfecting properties.
The committee recommended that these substances not be granted EU-wide approval under the EU biocidal products regulation (528/2012). The reason, according to the committee is that “the active substances cannot be approved for [such] product types…because their efficacy is not sufficiently demonstrated.” The committee is reviewing all biocidal products used in the EU to ensure they work and are safe.
For more see here.
