PRACTICE No restrictions on use in disinfectants ECHA recommendation on ethanol ECHA advocates continued use In February 2026, the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued its recommendation that ethanol can be authorized for use in hand and surface disinfectants. Therefore, the regulatory status remains unchanged: ethanol-containing disinfectants of product types 1 (personal hygiene), 2 (surface disinfection without direct human/animal contact) and 4 (food and feed sector) can continue to be used without restriction within their authorized areas of application. External use of ethanol is safe when handled correctly The health risks associated with ethanol exposure must be considered according to the route of exposure. While oral consumption of alcoholic beverages can be harmful, external application poses no significant risk when handled correctly. When ingested orally, ethanol enters the bloodstream directly and is broken down in the liver. In contrast, when applied topically — for example, via hand disinfection — only minimal amounts of ethanol are absorbed through the skin [1–3]. Similarly, inhaling disinfectant vapors leads to only minimal ethanol concentrations in the blood, which are well below critical levels [1–3]. According to the Robert Koch Institute, systemic exposure from alcohol-based hand disinfectants is lower than from consuming half a liter of apple juice [4]. For decades, ethanol has been an indispensable active ingredient in alcohol-based hand disinfectants, playing a central role in preventing healthcare-associated infections. However, in 2024, a proposal was made under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) to classify ethanol as a CMR substance (carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic). Due to the significant implications for infection control, numerous associations opposed the classification, calling for evidence-based clarification. This resulted in an extension to the deadline. HARTMANN has also campaigned for ethanol to continue to be used in disinfectants in order to ensure patient safety and infection control. EU decision pending The BPC‘s recommendation will now be forwarded to the European Commission. The Commission will then draw up a draft decision for the EU Member States to vote on. Once the final decision has been made, the conditions under which ethanol may be used in biocidal products in future will be clear. If approved, biocidal products containing ethanol may continue to be authorized in accordance with the BPR. References: 1. Kramer A et al. (2022) Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 11: 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01134-7 2. Ahmed-Lecheheb D et al. (2012) J Hosp Infect 81: 31-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2012.02.006 3. Below H et al. (2012) Am J Infect Control 40: 250-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2011.03.009 4. Robert Koch-Institut (2016) Epidemiol Bull 17: 143-146. https://doi.org/10.17886/EpiBull-2016-029 15
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