EN 17914:2025 and EN 17915:2025 are here and they’re set to reshape how domestic and professional disinfectant products make claims. For years, nonmedical 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. -medical products have relied on medical-area methods such as EN 14476 (suspension) and EN 16777 (surface), even though these 

The new standards change that. Not only are EN 17914:2025 and EN 17915:2025 relevant for food, feed, domestic and industrial environments, but they’re specifically designed to reflect real world “dirty” conditions, including home environments, catering, FM, schools and public spaces. 

Key changes include:

• Poliovirus as a required test organism is removed, making the testing more relevant for everyday disinfectants.
• Introduction of murine parvovirus where higher‑risk pharmaceutical manufacturing environments require it.
• A clearer distinction between professional and nonprofessional products. Professional use formulations can achieve a higher tier of virucidal claim, while nonprofessional products will be limited to enveloped virus claims for surface disinfection.-professional products. Professional-use formulations can achieve a -professional products will be limited to enveloped virus claims for surface disinfection

Some fundamentals stay the same, including the requirement for a 4-log reduction and the need to complete a suspension test before making a surface claim.

It’s also important to note where these new standards don’t apply. They are not intended for nursing homes, medical settings or medically indicated outbreaks (such as enterovirus outbreaks in schools), where medical area standards must still be used.-area standards must still be used.

Although these standards replace EN 14476 and EN 16777 for non-medical settings, previously generated EN 14476 data remains valid for products that want to continue using that method. However, the new standards allow for clearer use-specific testing and will become the ongoing requirement for products in these relevant areas of use.

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.

Our laboratories are 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. If you’re ready to adopt the updated methods and strengthen your claims, please contact us.