Ethanol Update – 27th November 2025

After many years of evaluation, on 26th November 2025, the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) concluded its discussions on the approval of ethanol as an active substance for disinfectant products, without adopting an opinion.

The BPC discussed the approval of ethanol for use in hand and general disinfectants, however they were unable to adopt an opinion on its potential hazards and alternatives.

Due to the lack of consensus, the BPC postponed this decision making. The BPC will resume discussions in February 2026, with the aim to adopt an opinion later in the year (not expected before May 2026).

What Should Manufacturers or Suppliers of Ethanol-Based Biocidal Products Do Now?

If you are a manufacturer or supplier of ethanol-based biocidal products, we strongly recommend closely reviewing the BPC outcome on ethanol in 2026 for further developments.

Blue Frog Scientific can support you to understand how the conclusions from the BPC meeting may impact your product portfolio and what actions to take next.