The European Union is considering classifying ethanol, a key ingredient in hand sanitisers and other biocidal products, as a dangerous substance due to potential links to cancer and pregnancy complications, according to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday.
An internal recommendation dated October 10 from a working group within the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) identified ethanol as a toxic compound that may require replacement in certain cleaning and disinfection products.
The ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee is scheduled to review the matter between November 25 and 27, where experts will assess whether ethanol poses a carcinogenic or reproductive health risk.
In an emailed statement to Reuters, the ECHA confirmed that it is currently evaluating ethanol for biocidal use. The agency stated that if the expert committee determines ethanol could cause cancer or harm reproductive health, it would recommend that the substance be substituted in affected products.
However, the regulator emphasized that assessments are ongoing and that no final decision has been made. The European Commission will take the final decision based on the committee’s scientific opinion once the evaluation is complete.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to classify ethanol and isopropanol as safe for hand hygiene, underscoring their effectiveness and global use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU and US Strike Trade Deal to Avert Tariff War
In a separate development, the United States and the European Union have reached a trade agreement that will see EU exports taxed at 15 percent, easing tensions that threatened to spark a transatlantic trade war.
The deal was finalized during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Trump’s golf resort in Scotland.
Calling it the “biggest-ever deal,” Trump said the agreement was reached in about an hour, just ahead of an August 1 deadline that would have triggered a 30 percent U.S. tariff on European goods.
“We’ve reached a deal. It’s a good deal for everybody. This is probably the biggest deal ever reached in any capacity,” Trump said following the meeting.
