The European Union is considering classifying ethanol — a key ingredient in biocidal products like hand sanitizers — as a potentially dangerous substance. This follows concerns raised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that ethanol exposure could increase cancer risks and pregnancy complications.
ECHA’s Internal Assessment Raises Concerns
According to the Financial Times, an internal working group within ECHA submitted a recommendation on October 10 suggesting that ethanol should be labeled as toxic. The assessment pointed to emerging evidence linking ethanol exposure to carcinogenic risks and reproductive harm, calling for its gradual replacement in cleaning agents and disinfectant products.
Regulator’s Clarification: No Final Decision Yet
The ECHA confirmed that ethanol is currently under scientific evaluation for its biocidal uses but clarified that no final conclusions have been reached. The agency’s Biocidal Products Committee is expected to review the matter between November 25 and 27, after which the European Commission will make the final determination.
The ECHA stated that if its experts confirm ethanol’s potential to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, it would formally recommend substituting the substance in relevant products.
WHO Maintains Ethanol’s Safety for Hand Hygiene
The World Health Organization (WHO), however, maintains that ethanol and isopropanol remain safe for hand hygiene and are essential ingredients in alcohol-based hand sanitizers globally. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, ethanol-based sanitizers have played a vital role in infection control, and any classification change could have wide-ranging regulatory and commercial implications.
What’s Next for Manufacturers and Consumers
If ethanol is reclassified as a dangerous substance, companies across Europe may face stricter compliance rules and reformulation costs for products such as sanitizers, surface cleaners, and disinfectants. For now, the chemical remains approved for biocidal use, pending the outcome of ECHA’s November review.
