- SS 705 provides a first-of-its-kind Singapore-developed assessment to test the effectiveness of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral potency, as well as durability of surface disinfectants and coatings.
- Enables manufacturers to verify claims, regulators to set baselines and consumers to make safer, more informed choices.
Singapore, 4 April 2025—As public awareness of hygiene and infection control grows in a post-pandemic world, Singapore has launched a strategic national standard to strengthen public health and industry accountability in the rapidly expanding disinfectant market.
Jointly developed by the Duke-NUS Centre of Regulatory Excellence—Standards Development Organisation (CoRE-SDO) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), the new Singapore Standard (SS) 705 provides a robust, science-based methodology of assessing the effectiveness and durability of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal surface disinfectants and coatings.
With the global antimicrobial market projected to reach US$65.7 billion by 2035, SS 705 comes at a critical moment to fill this gap in industry-wide guidance. It equips manufacturers with a credible validation framework for their claims, offers regulators a consistent reference for monitoring product quality and empowers consumers with confidence in the choices they make to protect their homes, workplaces and communities.
SS 705 provides a comprehensive and rigorous means of assessment that covers microbe selection, culture preparation, test methods and result analysis for surface disinfectants and coatings on non-porous materials, which includes plastics, metal and ceramics[1].
In leveraging SS 705, producers of surface disinfectant products can provide quality assurance to customers that their solutions can meet performance claims. This will provide users with increased confidence in their products, building brand trust and helping to cultivate customer loyalty in the long run. Industry regulators and stakeholders can also tap SS 705 to establish a baseline level of standardised testing and explore new industry benchmarks or regulations.
Dr Lim Kaiyang, Manager, Research, Development and Application (APAC), Corbion, who led the committee of experts in the drafting of the standard, explains:
“Standardised testing methods like SS 705 are crucial in ensuring the reliability of antimicrobial coatings. With clear guidelines, manufacturers can effectively validate product performance, including durability and stability, offering businesses and consumers greater confidence in the solutions provided.”
Professor John Lim, Executive Director ofthe Centre of Regulatory Excellence at Duke-NUS said:
“With the increasing use of antimicrobial coatings in public and healthcare spaces, it is important to have a rigorous and standardised approach to assess their durability and effectiveness. SS 705 sets a clear, standardised way to assess how long antimicrobial coatings remain effective on surfaces they are applied to. This helps regulators, manufacturers, and consumers make more informed choices to enhance protection of public health.”
Ms Choy Sauw Kook, Director-General (Quality and Excellence) at Enterprise Singapore added:
“Standards and conformance are very important in public health as they provide consumers with assurance that the products they use are of high quality and safe. The launch of SS 705 marks a significant step toward promoting standardisation and accountability among producers of surface disinfectants and coatings, raising the bar for the industry to fulfil its product promises.”
SS 705 was developed by the Working Group on Antimicrobial Protection, which comprises representatives from the Government, industry associations, testing and certification bodies, research institutions and industry stakeholders.
SS 705 can be purchased from the Singapore Standards e-shop.
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[1] It excludes textiles.
About Duke-NUS Medical School
Duke-NUS is Singapore’s flagship graduate-entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted ‘Clinicians Plus’ poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five Signature Research Programmes and ten Centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore’s largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has led to the creation of 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives.
For more information, please visit www.duke-nus.edu.sg
About Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE)
The Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) was established in 2014 at the Duke-NUS Medical School with the aim of strengthening regulatory systems for health products (including medical devices and pharmaceuticals) and health services in the Asia Pacific, with a special focus on South-East Asia. The centre is unique in offering a multi-pronged approach to regulatory systems strengthening through the three key strategic approaches of education and training, applied research and policy innovation in an Asian context. As a trusted partner with a wide collaborative network comprising major international and regional regulatory authorities, organisations, industry and academic institutions, CoRE is able to effectively play a coordinating role and contribute as an active partner in regional capacity building and systems strengthening initiatives.
Visit http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/core for more information.
About Enterprise Singapore
Enterprise Singapore is the government agency championing enterprise development. We work with committed companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalise.
We also support the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups, and build trust in Singapore’s products and services through quality and standards.
Visit www.enterprisesg.gov.sg for more information.
About Singapore Standards Council
The Singapore Standards Council (SSC) facilitates the development, promotion and review of Standards and Technical References in Singapore. This work is done through partnerships with the industry, academia and government organisations, under the national standardisation programme overseen by Enterprise Singapore.
Visit www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/standards for more information.
