Disinfectants for foreign and emerging animal diseases
The AVMA strongly advocates for and supports maintaining U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 18 exemptions for the use of disinfectants against foreign and emerging animal diseases where science demonstrates that they are effective and safe for the applications. Furthermore, the AVMA encourages emergency planners, veterinarians, and producers to incorporate such products in accordance with their exemption labels into foreign animal disease response plans. AVMA encourages monitoring for pathogen resistance to disinfectants, and for the development of concurrent antimicrobial resistance. Veterinarians are encouraged to utilize and support research into new strategies that maximize the effect of disinfectants on pathogens, while seeking to minimize the chances of developing resistance within microbes. We further advocate for consideration of timely approval and recognition of new products, or existing products already approved in other countries, to economically combat foreign animal diseases.