• by P.J. Bednarski  @pjbtweet, July 7, 2020

In what might become  a marketing advantage for the brand, Lysol Disinfectant Spray has been approved to protect against SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are the first two products to gain such recognition. Other products, including Microban 24, a new disinfectant from Procter & Gamble, are recognized to kill coronavirus, but cannot claim they kill the specific Covid-1 strain. Labeling on more than 400  disinfectants and on Clorox bottles make claims about non-specific coronaviruses.

The Associated Press reported that the EPA expects to approve other products for COVID-19 protection in the coming weeks.

Before a product can legally claim that it can kill a particular pathogen, the claim must be authorized by the EPA based on a review of data. Lysol Disinfectant Spray was tested and found to kill the virus at two minutes.

"The EPA's approval recognizes that using Lysol Disinfectant Spray can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces," said Rahul Kadyan,  executive vice president for hygiene at the company. “In the face of the pandemic, Lysol continues to work with a wide range of scientific and health experts to educate the public on the importance of hygiene."