Ethanol

12.3.2025

Question for written answer  E-001089/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Christine Singer (Renew), Engin Eroglu (Renew), Joachim Streit (Renew), Maria Grapini (S&D), Ondřej Krutílek (ECR), Stefan Köhler (PPE), Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (PPE), Aldo Patriciello (PfE), Carlo Ciccioli (ECR), Anna Zalewska (ECR), Tobiasz Bocheński (ECR), Antonella Sberna (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Flavio Tosi (PPE), Massimiliano Salini (PPE), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR), Alessandro Ciriani (ECR), Letizia Moratti (PPE), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Herbert Dorfmann (PPE), Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Nikola Minchev (Renew)

Ethanol (‘alcohol’) is a substance that is easily biologically degradable. As part of the evaluation procedure for biocidal active substances, it is proposed that ethanol be classified as toxic to reproduction and carcinogenic (Category 1), because these effects can be observed after the oral intake of alcoholic beverages. This classification would have the consequence that ethanol, due to EU chemical regulations (REACH[1] or CLP[2]), could no longer be used in detergents, care and cleaning products, disinfectants and cosmetics.

• 1.What costs does the Commission expect for the modification of hundreds of thousands of cosmetics, cleaning and disinfecting agents, and many other product groups, in the event that ethanol is classified in Category 1 as carcinogenic and toxic to reproduction?
• 2.What impact on the competitiveness of the EU economy does the Commission expect, in the event that ethanol is classified in Category 1 as carcinogenic and toxic to reproduction?
• 3.How does the Commission assess the compatibility of ethanol’s potential classification in Category 1 with one of the goals of the European Green Deal, namely sustainable raw material extraction, given that classification in Category 1 would effectively ban the use of ethanol in many product groups?

Supporter[3]

Submitted: 12.3.2025

• [1] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj).
• [2] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1272/oj).
• [3] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Fernand Kartheiser (ECR)