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Regulatory and microbiological testing house, MSL Solution Providers, has expanded its microbiological testing capabilities with the introduction of EN 17914:2025 and EN 17915:2025, the newly published European virucidal standards that are set to reshape how domestic and professional disinfectant products make claims. These new methods give brands and manufacturers a clearer, more relevant way to demonstrate virucidal performance, reduce ambiguity, and prepare for future BPR compliance.
For years, non-medical disinfectant products have relied on medical area methods such as EN 14476 (suspension) and EN 16777 (surface), even though these standards weren’t designed for the places these products are actually used. The new standards address this gap. Not only are they relevant for food, feed, domestic and industrial environments, but they’re specifically designed to reflect real world “dirty” conditions, including catering, FM, schools, public spaces, and home environments.
These new standards bring a clearer distinction between professional and non-professional products. Professional use formulations can achieve a higher tier of virucidal claim, while non-professional products will be limited to enveloped virus claims for surface disinfection. Other key updates include the removal of Poliovirus as a required test organism, making the testing more relevant for everyday disinfectants, and the introduction of murine parvovirus where higher‑risk pharmaceutical manufacturing environments require it.
Peter Thistlethwaite, Technical Manager at MSL Solution Providers, commented: “For brands and manufacturers developing trigger sprays, surface cleaners and other disinfectant products, this shift brings real advantages. The updated methods provide a clearer, more robust pathway to support virucidal claims, reducing ambiguity and helping products demonstrate performance under conditions that genuinely reflect their intended use. As these standards become the expected route for BPR compliance, transitioning to EN 17914 and EN 17915 will be essential for making and maintaining strong claims.”
He added: “Our virology laboratory is equipped to deliver microbiological testing to EN 17914:2025 and EN 17915:2025, helping brands transition smoothly to the new standards and ensure virucidal claims remain robust and BPR ‑compliant.”
Some fundamentals remain unchanged, including the requirement for a 4‑log reduction, and the need to complete a suspension test before making a surface claim. The standards also specify where they do not apply, such as nursing homes, medical settings and medically indicated outbreaks, where medical‑area standards must still be used. Although these standards replace EN 14476 and EN 16777 for non‑medical settings, previously generated EN 14476 data remain valid for products that want to continue using that method.
MSL’s expertise includes product claim support for the BPR (Biocidal Product Regulation), disinfectant testing, claims substantiation, safety data sheets, user trials, hygiene auditing, cleanroom validation (UV and airborne disinfection), and tailored solutions for specific testing needs. Its in-house microbiology and virology labs provide a comprehensive range of standard tests, including efficacy testing against bacteria, fungi, spores, viruses, mycobacteria, and legionella. The majority of its testing, including biocidal and virology testing, is accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
