News

Do you use biocidal products containing ethanol (CAS No. 64-17-5)? If so, you should pay close attention!

Biocidal products containing ethanol as an active substance currently benefit from national transitional measures that simplify the marketing process. In Germany, for example, such products can currently be marketed without authorisation. However, this situation may change in the future. The competent Greek authority has been evaluating ethanol for product types PT1, PT2 and PT4 for over 15 years. As a 'backlog dossier', it still falls under the transitional provisions of the old Biocidal Products Directive (BPD, Directive 98/8/EC).

In October 2024, the BPC Human Health Working Group reached the preliminary conclusion that ethanol exhibits potential carcinogenic and reprotoxic properties. This means that the active substance meets the ‘exclusion criteria’ of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012) and is considered a candidate for substitution in accordance with Article 10(1). A public consultation was then launched.

Public consultation and decision-making

From 25 February to 28 April 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) conducted a public consultation to gather information on possible alternatives to ethanol and any potential exemptions. In response to this call, the Agency received 356 submissions from industry, associations, and institutions.

However, at the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) meeting on 26 November 2025, no consensus could be reached on the potential hazards of ethanol and its alternatives. Apparently, concerns about the possible far-reaching consequences of a CMR classification and its proportionality were too great. From today's perspective, a final BPC opinion is not expected before May 2026. The Standing Committee on Biocidal Products, consisting of representatives from the member states, will then make the actual decision on the approval of ethanol. A concrete timetable for this is not yet available. We will continue to keep you informed of all relevant developments.

What are your next steps?

If the EU Commission approves ethanol for the relevant product types, a two-year transition period will begin. From today's perspective, manufacturers would therefore be required to submit their product dossiers to the ECHA by 2028 at the earliest in order to maintain market access for their products.

If you manufacture or sell ethanol-containing products and are unsure about the steps you need to take, Dr. Brill Regulatory Services can support you.

We can help you to understand the regulatory requirements, evaluate options for action, and design the entire authorisation process for your affected products strategically and efficiently.

We are planning to establish a consortium to coordinate the approval of ethanol-based disinfectants for use in the European healthcare sector.

If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

Please click here to contact us directly.

On 27-28 November 2025, the 11th Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology (CAHMV) took place. The conference, organised by DR. BRILL INSTITUTES, once again impressed participants on site at the maritime AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt and online on their screens with a wide range of specialist presentations and other highlights.

Workshop premiere with extraordinary insights: For the first time since 2019, CAHMV kicked off with a practice-oriented workshop on the topic of “Efficacy testing of antimicrobial products.” Exclusive video insights into our test laboratories in Hamburg and Bremen, as well as the explanations by Dr. Andreas Kampe and Dr. Dajana Paulmann, ensured a lively and informative start.

High-caliber keynotes: Professor Dr. Martin Exner explained the crucial importance of water quality for infection prevention and control in healthcare. Professor Dr. Andreas Voss spoke about current developments influencing infection prevention: from AI to environmental protection. On the second day of the conference, Dr. Florian H. H. Brill gave a comprehensive overview of the status and future development of efficacy testing of antimicrobial products.

Diverse specialist sessions and active exchange: Sessions led by Professor Eike Steinmann and Professor Jörg Steinmann offered further exciting insights into topics such as (re-)emerging viruses, AI-supported sequencing, and genome profiling. The session led by Dr. Gunnar Kleist focused on regulatory developments, while the presentations in the session led by Professor Dirk Bockmühl addressed topics related to household hygiene.

The panel discussion identified the following three areas for improvement for the REFIT of the BPR: 1.) We must emphasize much more strongly than before the indispensable importance of the application of biocidal products, e.g., for infection prevention, food, medical device, and drug production, as well as the sustainable use of materials. 2.) We need a risk-benefit assessment for the evaluation of biocidal products, not just a risk assessment as has been the case to date. 3.) We need an innovation booster for sustainable active substances and biocidal products. To achieve this, the process must become faster and more agile.

The active participation of the attendees and the excellent networking in the breaks and during the pre-Christmas evening program rounded off the conference perfectly. We would like to thank all speakers and participants for their commitment, which once again made this event an outstanding success. CAHMV 2025 reaffirms its position as a high-caliber platform for professional exchange in the field of applied hygiene, microbiology, and virology. We look forward to the next CAHMV conference!

UPDATE: Registration for CAHMV 2025 in Hamburg is still open until the end of this week. Start your last-minute registration now! We look forward to welcoming you as a participant on November 27 + 28, 2025. Registration for our CAHMV online livestream will remain open after this date.

Take the chance to participate in our 11th Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology 2025, which will be a very special CAHMV! As already announced, for the first time since 2019, the CAHMV 2025 begins with a workshop. This workshop entitled "Efficacy testing of antimicrobial products" will include video insights from our testing labs - an absolute premiere! This workshop and its video insight will deal with the following tests - don't miss it, and register now!

• Chemical-thermal textile disinfection: EN 16616:2022
• Hygienic handrub: EN 1500 vs. ASTM E2755
• Surface disinfection with mechanical action: EN 16615
• Instrument disinfection: EN 14561, EN 14562, EN 14563
• Surface disinfection without mechanical action: EN 13697
• Quantitative suspension tests
• Incubation and colony counting

Some of the further program highlights of this year's CAHMV are:

Keynote speakers of the CAHMV 2025 are Professor Dr. Martin Exner with a lecture on the impact of water quality on infection prevention and control in health care systems, and Professor Dr. Andreas Voss with his lecture on current developments with influence on infection prevention from AI to Environmental Protection. Dr. Florian H. H. Brill starts the second conference day with his legendary presentation on the latest developments in the efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial products.

Professor Dr. Eike Steinmann and Professor Dr. Jörg Steinmann are chairs of the extensive Session "Hot topics Infection Prevention & Control" with a large number of also exciting presentations. Regarding BPR, you can look forward to a session entitled "Current Regulatory Developments BPR" and to a lively panel discussion "Assessment for antimicrobial products - Are we valuing the importance of biocidal products sufficiently with the current BPR?". The program will be completed by Dr. Dirk Bockmühl's sessions on "Hygiene in Households".

Several colleagues from our Institutes will also be present and are already looking forward to meeting you in person during one of the breakes. Therefore, on 27 + 28 November 2025, we welcome you again at the AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt, as well as for a nice pre-Christmas evening program and dinner. Online participation is also possible (not for the BPR session on Friday!). The form for your registration and the content-rich full lecture program is available on our website www.cahmv.com.

Until 23 October 2025 you still have the possibility to register for our 11th Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology 2025, which will be a very special CAHMV! As already announced, for the first time since 2019, the CAHMV 2025 begins with a workshop. This workshop entitled "Efficacy testing of antimicrobial products" will include video insights from our testing labs - an absolute premiere! This workshop and its video insight will deal with the following tests - don't miss it, and register now!

• Chemical-thermal textile disinfection: EN 16616:2022
• Hygienic handrub: EN 1500 vs. ASTM E2755
• Surface disinfection with mechanical action: EN 16615
• Instrument disinfection: EN 14561, EN 14562, EN 14563
• Surface disinfection without mechanical action: EN 13697
• Quantitative suspension tests
• Incubation and colony counting

Some of the further program highlights of this year's CAHMV are:

Keynote speakers of the CAHMV 2025 are Professor Dr. Martin Exner with a lecture on the impact of water quality on infection prevention and control in health care systems, and Professor Dr. Andreas Voss with his lecture on current developments with influence on infection prevention from AI to Environmental Protection. Dr. Florian H. H. Brill starts the second conference day with his legendary presentation on the latest developments in the efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial products.

Professor Dr. Eike Steinmann and Professor Dr. Jörg Steinmann are chairs of the extensive Session "Hot topics Infection Prevention & Control" with a large number of also exciting presentations. Regarding BPR, you can look forward to a session entitled "Current Regulatory Developments BPR" and to a lively panel discussion "Assessment for antimicrobial products - Are we valuing the importance of biocidal products sufficiently with the current BPR?". The program will be completed by Dr. Dirk Bockmühl's sessions on "Hygiene in Households".

Take the chance to participate in this year's edition of our CAHMV with us: Several colleagues from our Institutes will also be present and are already looking forward to meeting you in person during one of the breakes. Therefore, on 27 + 28 November 2025, we welcome you again at the AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt, as well as for a nice pre-Christmas evening program and dinner. Online participation is also possible (not for the BPR session on Friday!). The form for your registration and the content-rich full lecture program is available on our website www.cahmv.com.

The program for our 11th Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology 2025 has just been released, and registration is now open!

After last year's big anniversary of our successful annual CAHMV, we have again several program highlights for you this year: For the first time since 2019, the CAHMV 2025 begins with a workshop. This workshop entitled "Efficacy testing of antimicrobial products" will include video insights from our testing labs - an absolute premiere you should not miss!

Keynote speakers of the CAHMV 2025 are Professor Dr. Martin Exner with a lecture on the impact of water quality on infection prevention and control in health care systems, and Professor Dr. Andreas Voss with his lecture on current developments with influence on infection prevention from AI to Environmental Protection. Dr. Florian H. H. Brill starts the second conference day with his legendary presentation on the latest developments in the efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial products.

Professor Dr. Eike Steinmann and Professor Dr. Jörg Steinmann are chairs of the extensive Session "Hot topics Infection Prevention & Control" with a large number of also exciting presentations. Regarding BPR, you can look forward to a session entitled "Current Regulatory Developments BPR" and to a lively panel discussion "Assessment for antimicrobial products - Are we valuing the importance of biocidal products sufficiently with the current BPR?". The program will be completed by Dr. Dirk Bockmühl's sessions on "Hygiene in Households".

Take the chance to participate in this year's edition of our CAHMV with us: Several colleagues from our Institutes will also be present and are already looking forward to meeting you in person during one of the breakes. Therefore, on 27 + 28 November 2025, we welcome you again at the AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt, as well as for a nice pre-Christmas evening program and dinner. Online participation is also possible (not for the BPR session on Friday!). The form for your registration and the content-rich full lecture program is available on our website www.cahmv.com.

With rich participation of the DR. BRILL INSTITUTES Group, the SETAC Europe Annual Meeting will take place in Vienna from May 11-15, 2025 - under the overall theme “Innovation for Tomorrow: Progress in Safe and Sustainable Concepts.” For our part, Dr. Brill Regulatory Services GmbH and Hydrotox GmbH are both involved, both in terms of personnel and content - and for the first time even with their own exhibition stand!

Our commitment in detail:

Session 6.07: “Environmental Risk Assessment under Biocides and other EU legislations” with presentation by Heike Schimmelpfennig, Dr. Brill Regulatory Services GmbH, on “Comparison of Environmental Exposure Assessment Strategies across Different EU Legislation”
Chair: Andrea Brunswik-Titze, Hydrotox GmbH
Co-chair: Aiga Latsone, ECHA, Heike Schimmelpfennig, Dr. Brill Regulatory Services GmbH

Poster contributions from Hydrotox GmbH:

• Elena Perabo, Dr. Christoph Hafner:
  "Sustainable green roofs for the implementation of the sponge city: Determination of ecotoxicologically safe construction products for green roofs"
• Andrea Brunswik-Titze, Stefan Gartiser:
  "Consolidation of OECD tests for ready biodegradability on the example of OECD 310"

Exhibition booth - Booth No. 3: For the first time, Hydrotox and Dr. Brill Regulatory Services will be represented with a joint booth at the SETAC Europe Annual Meeting.

Our colleagues on site are already looking forward to welcoming a hopefully large number of our customers and, of course, potential new customers to the beautifully styled stand - Booth No. 3. If you would like to make an appointment in advance, please contact us, e.g. by email here: info@brillhygiene.com

One-day free tickets: A small number of SETAC one-day free tickets are still available at Hydrotox, which we will be happy to pass on to you. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Christoph Hafner directly by email at hafner@hydrotox.de.

Use your participation in the SETAC Europe Annual Meeting for a personal meeting with us! The following colleagues will be present in Vienna: From Dr. Brill Regulatory Services Dr. Gunnar Kleist (Director Regulatory Services) and Heike Schimmelpfennig (Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs), as well as from Hydrotox Andrea Brunswik-Titze (Team Leader and Test Leader Biodegradability), Marie Bechstein (Test Leader Biodegradability), Elene Perabo (Test Leader Ecotoxicology, Third Party Research Projects) and Dr. Christoph Hafner (Head of GLP Test Facility, Customer Support).

The SETAC Europe Annual Meeting is an annual conference of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europe that brings together scientists, policy makers and industry representatives to discuss current issues in the fields of environmental toxicology, ecotoxicology and environmental chemistry.

Main features of the conference:

• Topics: Environmental risk research, life cycle assessment, regulatory developments and scientific policy advice
• Formats: Scientific sessions, plenary lectures, training sessions and networking events
• Participants: 2,000-2,500 experts from over 60 countries

The conference serves as a platform for the exchange of new findings and promotes cooperation between research, industry and authorities.

Link: SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting

Dr. Florian Brill has been appointed to DIN's new SME Council, where he represents the testing and laboratory sector as Vice President of the German Association of Independent Testing Laboratories (VUP). The SME Council is a cross-thematic and cross-industry advisory body that supports the operational management level of DIN with regard to the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in standardization. The aim is to facilitate the participation of SMEs in standardization processes and to ensure that their interests can be represented in an effective and balanced manner, regardless of their sector and size. The SME Council's advisory focus is on
•    Identification of SME interests in standardization
•    Simplifying the standardization process, especially for cross-cutting issues
•    Simplification of standards and the reduction of their partial complexity for application in SMEs
•    Development and review of supporting instruments
•    Raising external awareness of important standardization topics
•    Recruitment and qualification of standardization experts
•    Development of SME training modules
The 25-member advisory board will hold its inaugural meeting on 19 February 2025.

DIN - Medium-sized companies: HERE

Für die bevorstehende Weihnachtszeit wünschen wir Ihnen von Herzen frohe Festtage, und für das neue Jahr alles erdenklich Gute! Unseren Kunden, Lieferanten, Partnern und Freunden danken wir sehr für die besonders vertrauensvolle Zusammenarbeit in 2024 - und natürlich freuen wir uns schon auf eine hoffentlich ebenso gelingende Fortsetzung im kommenden Jahr. 

Übrigens, das Jahr 2025 wird auch für unser Institut besonders werden: Nachdem in diesem Jahr unsere Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology (CAHMV) bereits ihr 10-jähriges Jubiläum feiern konnte, steht gleich ein weiteres Jubiläum an: Die Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH wurde 1995 gegründet, 2025 dann also vor 30 Jahren.

The 27th Biocide Europe Conference will take place on December 2 and 3, 2024. Take the opportunity to meet Heike Schimmelpfennig, our expert on biocides from Dr. Brill Regulatory Services GmbH.

We would be delighted to see you again or meet you at the conference in Vienna. You are also welcome to make an appointment in advance. Link to the appointment request by e-mail: HERE.

The program for our Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology 2024 has been slightly expanded, and registrations are still possible! Celebrate with us this year's big anniversary of our successful annual CAHMV. The form for your registration and the latest version of the content-rich lecture program is availble on our website www.cahmv.com.

Keynote speakers are Professor Dr. Rasmus Leistner with a lecture on the hot topic of pro-biotic cleaning vs. disinfection, and Professor Dr. Ojan Assadian with his lecture "Relevance of Applied Hospital Hygiene from Hospital Management view". Additionally, Dr. Florian H. H. Brill will give his legendary presentation on the latest developments in the efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial products. There will also be a panel discussion on 25 years of biocide regulation in Europe, a presentation on the efficacy testing of PT18 and 19 insecticides and repellents, and a session “Hot topics Infection Prevention and Control” chaired by Professors Eike and Jörg Steinmann with presentations on the yellow fever virus and Candida auris. And of course, we will be discussing the current topics of biofilm test methods, resistance development in biocides and phase 3 tests.

This 10th conference is organized for the first time in collaboration with our partners from BioGenius, who will be celebrating their 20th anniversary there at the same time. Therefore, BioGenius invites you additionally to a pleasent Welcome reception at the evening before the conference starts. Take the chance to celebrate the 10th edition of our CAHMV with us. On 28 + 29 November 2024 (Pre-Evening Event: 27 November 2024), we would like to welcome you together with BioGenius again at the AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt, as well as for a beautiful maritime evening program on the Elbe river. We are looking forward to your registration. Online participation is also possible. www.cahmv.com

The program for our Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology 2024 has just been released, and registrations are now open! Celebrate with us this year's big anniversary of our successful annual CAHMV. This 10th conference is organized for the first time in collaboration with our partners from BioGenius, who will be celebrating their 20th anniversary there at the same time. Therefore, BioGenius invites you additionally to a pleasent Welcome reception at the evening before the conference starts.

The form for your registration and the content-rich lecture program is availble on our website www.cahmv.com.

Keynote speakers are Professor Dr. Rasmus Leistner with a lecture on the hot topic of pro-biotic cleaning vs. disinfection, and Professor Dr. Ojan Assadian with his lecture "Relevance of Applied Hospital Hygiene from Hospital Management view". Additionally, Dr. Florian H. H. Brill will give his legendary presentation on the latest developments in the efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial products. There will also be a panel discussion on 25 years of biocide regulation in Europe, a presentation on the efficacy testing of PT18 and 19 insecticides and repellents, and a session “Hot topics Infection Prevention and Control” chaired by Professors Eike and Jörg Steinmann with presentations on the yellow fever virus and Candida auris. And of course, we will be discussing the current topics of biofilm test methods, resistance development in biocides and phase 3 tests.

Take the chance to celebrate the 10th edition of our CAHMV with us. On 28 + 29 November 2024 (Pre-Evening Event: 27 November 2024), we would like to welcome you together with BioGenius again at the AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt, as well as for a beautiful maritime evening program on the Elbe river. We are looking forward to your registration. Online participation is also possible. www.cahmv.com

We are organizing this 10th CAHMV for the first time in cooperation with our partners from BioGenius, who will also be celebrating their 20th anniversary with this conference.

Our first two key note speakers are confirmed Professor Dr. Rasmus Leistner with a talk on the hot topic regarding pro-biotic cleaning vs. disinfection. Also of course Dr. Florian H. H. Brill will give is legendary talk on the current developments regarding efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial products. In addition, we will have a panel discussion on 25 years Biocidal Regulation in Europe, a talk about efficacy testing of PT18 and 19 insecticides and repellents. Also the sessions “Hot topics Infection Prevention and Control” chaired by Professors Eike and Jörg Steinmann with talks on Yellow fever virus and Candida auris are as well confirmed. We will of course talk about the current topics on Biofilm test methods, resistance development by biocides as well as phase 3 testing.

Save the Date: Celebrate with us this year's big anniversary CAHMV, the 10th edition of our conference! On 28 + 29 November 2024, we would like to welcome you again together with BioGenius at the AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt for the 10th CAHMV 2024, as well as for a maritime evening program. We would of course be delighted to welcome you. For a non-binding pre-reservation, simply send an e-mail to claudia.steinfath@brillhygiene.com.