Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of coal-tar disinfectants that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces. The Draft Malawi Standard is intended for the evaluation of coal-tar type disinfectants for general use. Black fluid consists of a solubilized crude phenol fraction prepared from high boiling point tar acids. White fluid consists of emulsified phenolic compounds. 

Products Covered: Tar distilled from coal, from lignite or from peat, and other mineral tars, whether or not dehydrated or partially distilled, incl. reconstituted tars (HS code(s): 2706); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for disinfectants based on phenolics which are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces that are free from excessive dirt. Phenols are compounds containing at least one hydroxyl group attached directly to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring. Examples include phenol and o-phenylphenol.  

Products Covered: Phenolic resins, in primary forms (HS code(s): 390940); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of detergent-disinfectants based on quaternary ammonium compounds and other chemical agents (such as compatible surface-active agents and phosphates) that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces that have been cleaned with potable water and have had gross soil removed, and are free from visible soil.  

Products Covered: Compounds with other nitrogen function (excl. amine-function compounds; oxygen-function amino-compounds; quaternary ammonium salts and hydroxides; lecithin and other phosphoaminolipids; carboxyamide-function compounds; amide-function compounds of carbonic acid; carboxyimide-function, imine-function or nitrile-function compounds; diazo-, azo- or azoxy-compounds; organic derivatives of hydrazine or of hydroxylamine) (HS code(s): 2929); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of detergent-disinfectants that contain organic halogen compounds (other than iodine compounds) such as fluorine, bromine or chlorine, in which the halogen(s) is (are) directly linked to nitrogen and that also contain other chemical agents (such as compatible surface-active agents and phosphates) that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces that have been cleaned with potable water and have had gross soil removed, and are free from visible soil.  

Products Covered: SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, ARTIFICIAL WAXES, PREPARED WAXES, POLISHING OR SCOURING PREPARATIONS, CANDLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, MODELLING PASTES, ‘DENTAL WAXES’ AND DENTAL PREPARATIONS WITH A BASIS OF PLASTER (HS code(s): 34); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for 2-Pack acrylic resin-based auto-refinishing paint. 

Products Covered: ORGANIC CHEMICALS (HS code(s): 29); Paints and varnishes (ICS code(s): 87.040)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of detergent-disinfectants based on stabilized inorganic chlorine compounds and other chemical agents (such as compatible surface-active agents and phosphates), that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces.  

Products Covered: SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, ARTIFICIAL WAXES, PREPARED WAXES, POLISHING OR SCOURING PREPARATIONS, CANDLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, MODELLING PASTES, 'DENTAL WAXES' AND DENTAL PREPARATIONS WITH A BASIS OF PLASTER (HS code(s): 34); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard specifies general requirements for disinfectants, detergent-disinfectants including antiseptics (i.e. anti-bacterial hand soap and cleaners) intended for use in the food industry. The Draft Malawi Standard sets minimum requirements for the safety of disinfectants, detergent-disinfectants and antiseptics that are intended for use in the food processing industry and might come into contact with food, beverage and dairy products. 

Products Covered: SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, ARTIFICIAL WAXES, PREPARED WAXES, POLISHING OR SCOURING PREPARATIONS, CANDLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, MODELLING PASTES, ‘DENTAL WAXES’ AND DENTAL PREPARATIONS WITH A BASIS OF PLASTER (HS code(s): 34); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements and test methods for detergent-disinfectant liquid toilet cleansers based on quaternary ammonium compounds and other chemical agents (such as compatible surface-active agents and phosphates) that are miscible with water and intended for cleaning toilet bowls and urinals 

Products Covered: Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent: (HS code(s): 34011); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements and corresponding test methods for polyaluminium chloride hydroxide and polyaluminium chloride hydroxide sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It also determines the rules relating to safe handling (see Annex A). 

Products Covered: Saturated chlorinated derivatives of acyclic hydrocarbons (excl. chloromethane "methyl chloride", chloroethane "ethyl chloride", dichloromethane "methylene chloride", chloroform "trichloromethane", carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloroethane "ethylene dichloride") (HS code(s): 290319); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard describes the characteristics and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for sodium chloride intended for onsite electrochlorination of water intended for human consumption. It also gives information on its use in water treatment. 

Products Covered: Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) and pure sodium chloride, whether or not in aqueous solution or containing added anti-caking or free-flowing agents; sea water. (HS code(s): 2501); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification