“Does It Have a DIN Number?” – Why That Question Matters for Farm Biosecurity!

When it comes to protecting your livestock, disinfectants play a critical role. Whether you're cleaning barns, equipment, or water lines, the products you use matter—not just in performance, but in legality and safety. In Canada, there is only one surefire way to know that a disinfectant is proven, tested, and approved: it must have a Drug Identification Number (DIN).

What Is a DIN?

A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is an eight-digit number issued by Health Canada to a product that has been reviewed and approved for use as a drug or disinfectant. This includes evaluating safety, efficacy, quality, and proper labelling. If a product is truly a disinfectant in the eyes of Canadian law, it will have a DIN. No DIN? Then it is not a legal disinfectant—plain and simple.

The Testing Behind a DIN

To earn a DIN, a product must go through a rigorous testing protocol. This includes:

• Demonstrating effectiveness against specific pathogens (like bacteria, viruses, or fungi)

• Lab validation under specific contact times and environmental conditions

• Toxicity and residue analysis to ensure safety for both animals and humans

• Proper labelling that communicates active ingredients, directions, and warnings

This ensures that producers can trust DIN-registered products to perform as promised when used according to label directions.

Beware of “Disinfectants” Without a DIN

Unfortunately, some companies attempt to bypass these requirements by selling products—often marketed as “water treatment solutions,” “surface cleansers,” or “natural sanitizers”—that claim to disinfect but do not have a DIN. Their marketing language may sound convincing, sometimes boasting about “all-natural ingredients” or “new technology,” but this is misleading at best and fraudulent at worst.

The claim that a product doesn’t need a DIN because it’s made with natural ingredients is completely false. Disinfectants are judged by their ability to kill pathogens reliably—not by how natural they sound. You wouldn't give your livestock a vaccine that wasn’t approved—so why risk disease spread with unproven sanitation products?

The Real Cost of Snake Oil

Using a non-DIN product that claims to disinfect can have serious consequences:

• False sense of security, leaving pathogens unchecked

• Risk of disease outbreak, compromising animal health and production

• Regulatory non-compliance, which could impact your farm's certifications or eligibility for programs

• Biosecurity failure, possibly leading to economic losses or even regional quarantines

Some of these companies are no more than modern-day snake oil salesmen, preying on well-intentioned producers with promises of "the latest breakthrough" that hasn’t been validated. Don't take the bait.

The Takeaway: Ask the Right Question

Before you even get into a conversation about a new disinfectant product, ask one simple question: "Does it have a DIN number?"

If the answer is anything but "yes," walk away. Your biosecurity plan is too important to gamble on unproven solutions.

Biosecurity starts with knowledge—and ends with accountability. Protect your animals, your business, and your reputation by demanding DIN-registered disinfectants.