Commission: Union authorisation for a hand disinfectant with hypochlorous acid — 0.1% active chlorine, 2 × 3 ml for 30 seconds, pH 4–8, bacteria, yeasts and viruses, valid from 29 November 2026 to 31 March 2036
The Official Journal of the EU of 9 November 2026 published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2474 granting a Union authorisation for a ready-to-use liquid for hygienic hand disinfection (product-type 1). The active substance is active chlorine released from hypochlorous acid (0.1% w/w), and the summary of product characteristics sets the dose, contact time, pH range and storage conditions — parameters that are checked in the laboratory.
- Authorisation No EU-0035170-0000 was granted to the German company Zimmer Reinigungstechnik GmbH (Hettstadt) for the product ‘Product 3’, which may be placed on the market under 33 trade names. The authorisation is valid from 29 November 2026 to 31 March 2036, and the regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after publication.
- This is an authorisation for a “same product” (procedure under Implementing Regulation (EU) No 414/2013): the application was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency on 30 June 2022, and the reference product is ‘ECA Disinfect skin 1000’ from the biocidal product family ‘ECA Disinfect skin Product family 7’, authorised by Regulation (EU) 2026/750. According to the Agency’s opinion of 2 July 2025, the differences are limited to administrative changes, and the expiry date is aligned with the reference product.
- Composition according to the summary of product characteristics: active chlorine released from hypochlorous acid (CAS 7790-92-3) — 0.1% (w/w), formulation type “any other liquid” (AL). Hazard statement H290 — may be corrosive to metals.
- Use: non-medical hand disinfection indoors against bacteria, yeasts and viruses — 3 ml onto clean and dry hands, rub for 30 seconds and repeat (2 × 3 ml in total, contact time 2 × 30 s); at most 25 times a day for professional users and 10 times for others. The product must be formulated to pH 4–8.
- Storage: shelf life of 18 months at a temperature of at most 20 °C, protect from frost and light; HDPE or PET packaging — bottles from 500 ml to 20 l and IBC tanks of 500–1000 l.
- For a laboratory testing disinfectants, the summary of product characteristics defines what can be checked in a market sample: active chlorine content (0.1% w/w), pH within 4–8, and whether these values hold over the shelf life when stored at up to 20 °C. The regulation does not specify efficacy test methods.