Final answer:
The FDA and the EPA are the primary government agencies responsible for approving new environmental disinfectants before they are available to healthcare facilities, adhering to standards set by official organizations like the AOAC.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government agencies responsible for approving new environmental disinfectants before their being sold to healthcare facilities are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA is involved in the regulation of medicines and ensures that medical devices, which include some disinfectants, are safe and effective before they can be marketed.
Additionally, the EPA is responsible for regulating disinfectants as they are considered pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This includes confirming the efficacy of disinfectants through criteria established by groups such as the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists International (AOAC), which requires a use-dilution test that disinfectant manufacturers must perform.