. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1285 
28 April 2006 
 (06-2024) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Disinfectants, food-contact sanitizers, bacteriocide/bacteriostats, 
microbiocide/microbiostats, fungicides/fungistats, and virucides . 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any 
US tradepartners  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  NOTICE. 
Alkylbenzene Sulfonates Risk Assessment and Preliminary Risk Reduction Options; 
Notice of Availability (Available in English, 3 pages).  
6. Description of content:  This notice announces the availab ility of EPA's risk assessment, 
preliminary risk reduction options, and relate d documents for the pesticide alkylbenzene 
sulfonates which encompasses sodium dodecy lbenzene sulfonate;  dodecylbenzene sulfonic 
acid;  and benzenesulfonic acid, C10-C16 alkyl derivatives, and opens a public comment 
period on these documents.  The public also is  encouraged to suggest risk management 
ideas or proposals to address the risks identified.  The alkylbenzene sulfonates are both active and in ert ingredients in pesticide products.  As 
active ingredients, they are currently found in end-use products as a disinfectant, food-
contact sanitizer, bacteriocide/bacteriostat, mi crobiocide/microbiostat, fungicide/fungistat, 
and virucide.  As inert ingredients, they ar e found in end-use products, many of which are 
used in residential settings, and outdoors in agricultural settings.  The alkylbenzene sulfonates are both active and in ert ingredients in pesticide products.  As 
active ingredients, they are currently in 23 registered end-use products as a disinfectant, 
food-contact sanitizer, bacteriocide/bacteriostat, microbiocide/microbiostat, fungicide/fungistat, and virucide.  Alkylben zene sulfonates are in cleaners and sanitizers 
that are designated for use in agricultural, food handling and commercial/institutional/industrial settings.  Examples of registered uses for alkylbenzene 
sulfonates include, but are not limited to:  Application to indoor hard surfaces e.g., urinals, 
shower stalls, toilet bowls, etc., food disp ensing equipment (e.g., pre-mix and post-mix 
vending machines), food contact surfaces (glass es, dishes, silverware, countertops, etc.), 
agricultural tools, and fruits and vegetables (post- harvest).  As active ingredients, there are 
no residential or outdoor uses currently regi stered.  As inert ingredients, there are 
approximately 350 registered end-use products containing these chemicals.  Many of these G/SPS/N/USA/1285 
Page 2  
 
  products are used in residential settings, and out doors in agricultural settings.  The Agency's 
risk assessment identified dietary, residential and occupational risks of concern for some exposure scenarios.  Because limited informati on is available for some exposure scenarios 
conservative assumptions were sometimes used in the risk assessment.  The Agency is 
interested in receiving any information that  could assist in refining the risk assessment.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [ X ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests   
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal Register: 
19 April 2006 (Volume 71, Number 75), Pages 20090-20092,  
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/April/Day-19/p5879.htm  (Available in 
English).  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Not specified 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  N/A – this is a notice of availability and may or may 
not result in a future regulatory action.  A notice invites the public to submit additional 
scientific information and comments to the Agency.    
12. Final date for comments:  Members are encouraged to submit their comments by 
19 June 2006 if possible.  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  Antimicrobials Division (7510C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001  
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notifi cation authority, [   ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ms Julie Morin, United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Food Safety & Technical Services Division, Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250.  Tel:  202-720-4051;  Fax:  202-690-0677;  E-mail:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov