The European Union has decided that ethanol can no longer be used for hand disinfection. This substance has been deemed dangerous, threatening many disinfectants used in hospitals. According to the Financial Times, this decision has raised serious concerns in the healthcare sector.
The working group of the European Chemicals Agency reported on October 10 that ethanol may be harmful to health, potentially causing cancer and issues during pregnancy. Thus, they recommended replacing it in cleaning agents.
The ECHA committee must decide whether to classify ethanol as a harmful substance to humans
Doctors have expressed their outrage. There are concerns that alternatives to ethanol, such as isopropanol, may be even more toxic. Furthermore, using soap instead of disinfectants may be less effective and negatively impact the skin.
This is not the first ban imposed by the EU. Previously, another substance was banned in the beauty industry, which could affect manicure service providers. Now new rules will be adopted to comply with safety standards and ensure public health.