Irish schools have been instructed to stop using another 52 sanitiser products that were provided to help them safely reopen while the coronavirus is circulating.
It comes after the recall of ViraPro hand sanitiser amid concerns it could cause skin conditions, headaches and breathing problems.
The following day the Department of Agriculture advised the public to stop using all Virapro sanitation products.
This week, the Department of Education has been carrying out a review of all the biocidal products it purchased or recommended for the reopening of schools.
This afternoon, it said it was taking 52 more products off the approved list for schools because it has “not been possible to satisfactorily confirm their registration status as part of the review.”
It said there is “no evidence that these products are unsafe” but they will not be returned to the approved list until it can confirm that they are included on the Department of Agriculture’s Biocidal Product Register.
Biocidal products
It said schools that have purchased any of the 43 biocidal and 9 'other' products should not use them and should store them securely until they can be collected by the supplier.
Schools have been sent an updated list of approved products and any impacted schools will be given funding to source and replace new supplies.
They will also be able to access funding to hire an 'Aide' to help deal with the issues.
A full list of products removed from the register is available below.
Biocidal Product Register
There are currently over 450 products on the register and all of them should have a clearly visible PCS, IE-BPA or EU number on the label.
In a statement, the Department of Agriculture said that while there are products on the market that have not been properly registered, that does not mean they are unsafe.
“With the exception of products in the Virapro range, which have already been the subject of a recall, there is no reason to believe that the failure to register a product gives rise of itself to specific concerns in relation to safety or efficacy,” it said.
It said people do not need to dispose of any product they have already purchased – but urged people to ensure future purchases bear one of the approved numbers.
Hygiene products removed from the approved list for schools:
Hygiene products removed from the approved PPE list for schools
Hygiene products removed from the approved PPE list for schools
Hygiene products removed from the approved PPE list for schools
Hygiene products removed from the approved PPE list for schools
Hygiene products removed from the approved PPE list for schools
