BIOCIDES
The consequences would not stop at biocides. Similar mechanisms exist under other EU legislation. In particular, REACH restricts the supply of substances classified as CMR to the general public. A CMR classification could therefore have far-reaching consequences for the availability of ethanol-containing products across multiple consumer and professional applications, extending well beyond disinfectants.
The regulatory impact would be immediate and profound. Manufacturers would face uncertainty regarding future market access, product authorisations and investment decisions. Formulators would need to reassess entire product portfolios, while users across healthcare, food production, public services, workplaces and households could face reduced access to products that today rely on ethanol ' s unique properties.
In practical terms, a CMR classification could therefore represent the beginning of the end for ethanol in Europe. The real policy question is not the classification itself but whether Europe is willing to lose an essential substance for hygiene and infection control as an unintended consequence of legislation designed
Ethanol is a key ingredient in a wide range of hygiene and disinfection applications
for a very different exposure context. Policymakers should carefully consider whether such an outcome would ultimately strengthen or weaken European public health, hygiene resilience and industrial competitiveness.
The broad support generated by the trade association Detergents Europe( formerly AISE)’ s‘ Hands up for Ethanol’ campaign highlighted just how many sectors depend on continued access to ethanol-based biocidal products. It brought together more than 1,200 signatories from all EU Member States and more than 20 sectors. 2 The campaign demonstrated the breadth of downstream reliance on ethanol and the need for decisions to take account of real-world exposure, product use and public-health needs.
Looking ahead
The decisions now facing European regulators will shape far more than the classification status of a single substance. In particular, the question of whether the Greek authorities ultimately proceed with the submission of a harmonised classification and labelling( CLH) dossier for ethanol could prove to be a defining moment for the substance ' s future in Europe. Once a CLH process
is initiated, the implications extend well beyond scientific debate, potentially triggering regulatory consequences across multiple pieces of EU legislation.
Ultimately, the debate is about whether Europe can preserve access to a substance that underpins everyday hygiene, infection prevention and public health across society. In the absence of viable large-scale alternatives, the stakes are exceptionally high. A decision to pursue a CMR classification could set in motion a chain of regulatory consequences that progressively restrict ethanol ' s use across sectors, despite its recognised benefits and essential role in modern hygiene practices.
For European policymakers and CAs, the challenge is therefore to carefully weigh both the scientific assessment and the wider societal implications of their decisions. For the many sectors that depend on ethanol, Europe must avoid finding itself in the position of having unintentionally regulated away an essential tool for hygiene, infection control and public health. ●
References: 1: European Chemicals Agency( ECHA), ECHA’ s Biocides Committee Supports Approval of Ethanol in Disinfectants, 24 February 2026. https:// echa. europa. eu /- / echa-s-biocides-committee-supportsapproval-of-ethanol-in-disinfectants 2: Detergents Europe, Hands Up for Ethanol Campaign. https:// www. detergentseurope. eu / initiatives / hands-up-for-ethanol /
J j
Nicole Vaini
DIRECTOR, ADVOCACY
DETERGENTS EUROPE vaini @ detergentseurope. eu www. detergentseurope. eu
NOV / DEC 2026 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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