Ethanol-Allianz

The general classification and labeling of ethanol as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR) not only jeopardizes but hinders rapid protection against infections.

If ethanol is classified and labeled as CMR substance, ethanol-based products can no longer be used in the following areas:

1. in hand disinfectants for health care professionals, patients, and visitors in hospitals and other health care facilities,
2. in hand disinfectants sold to consumers in pharmacies or drugstores, and
3. in disinfectants used for surfaces in hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, the food and beverage industry, and the cosmetics industry.

The ApEI is committed to ensure that ethanol will not be classified and labeled as CMR substance.

Only then is it possible for ethanol-based products to fulfill their role to quickly and efficiently break infection chains.

Ethanol is justifiably the most widely used active ingredient in disinfection due to its broad efficacy, safe application and high availability, making it an indispensable component of infection prevention.

Further information can be found in the joint expert statement of the German Association of Applied Hygiene (VAH) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for ethanol as an indispensable active ingredient for hand disinfectants in the healthcare sector.