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Ethanol approved for disinfection in the food industry
European regulations regarding disinfectants have seen a significant development: ethanol seems to be allowed as an active substance for the time being. The Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has issued a positive opinion on the use of ethanol in various types of disinfectants.
On February 24, 2026, the BPC concluded that ethanol can be approved for multiple applications:
The committee has not yet made a definitive statement on the possible classification of ethanol as:
This is due to the remaining uncertainties in the available data:
Additional research is being prepared.
Ethanol plays a crucial role in daily hygiene and infection prevention. It is widely used in areas such as:
The positive advice from ECHA provides more certainty for producers and users of disinfectants. However, there remains a need for attention to future classification decisions, which may impact labeling and usage conditions.
The advice of the BPC is not yet a definitive approval. The European Commission ultimately makes the decision.
The next steps are:
Only then can ethanol-containing disinfectants be formally approved or – if rejected – removed from the market.
Brilliant offers ethanol-based disinfectants in its product range, such as Alcodes maxiwipes. Since these products are approved, we will continue to offer them. Changes may be necessary in the future, depending on the results of the additional risk assessment. Should the European Commission decide not to approve ethanol, we can offer an alcohol-free alternative. Examples include Oxydes maxiwipes.
With the positive recommendation from the ECHA committee, ethanol seems to be allowed to remain as a disinfectant within the EU for the time being. Although the safety for specific applications has been confirmed, the discussion about potential health risks remains open. The final decision now lies with the European Commission, which determines whether ethanol will be officially approved under the biocidal regulations.
