Aquaox Approved for EU-Wide Supply of HOCl Hand Disinfection Products

European Union Authorisation for ECA Disinfect Skin Product Family 7

Aquaox is pleased to announce another important milestone in the European regulatory approval of Electrochemically Activated (ECA) water and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) based disinfection products.

The European Commission has granted a Union Authorisation for the biocidal product family “ECA Disinfect skin Product family 7” under the European Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR – Regulation (EU) No 528/2012).

The authorisation was granted through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/750 of 31 March 2026 and covers PT1 – Human Hygiene, specifically non-medical hand disinfection.

The Union authorisation is valid from 21 April 2026 until 31 March 2036.

Aquaox/ACS is included in the official authorisation as an approved manufacturer and production site, providing a European regulatory framework for the manufacture and supply of compliant ready-to-use ECA/HOCl hand-disinfection products.

PT1 – Human Hygiene

Product Type 1 under the European Biocidal Products Regulation covers biocidal products used for human hygiene.

For ECA Disinfect skin Product family 7, the European Commission has specifically authorised the use:

“Hand disinfection – non-medical application.”

This means products within the authorised family can be made available on the European market for non-medical hand-disinfection applications, provided that the products are manufactured, labelled and used in accordance with the conditions of the Union authorisation.

This is an important distinction. Although the original application included additional PT1 and PT3 uses, the final Union authorisation was granted specifically for PT1 non-medical hand disinfection.

Active Chlorine Released from Hypochlorous Acid

The active substance in the authorised product family is active chlorine released from hypochlorous acid (HOCl).

Hypochlorous acid can be generated through Electrochemical Activation (ECA), using primarily water, salt and electricity.

Aquaox has many years of experience in developing and manufacturing ECA technology for the controlled production of HOCl solutions. The technology makes it possible to produce effective disinfectant solutions without relying on the traditional supply chain associated with many conventional disinfectant chemicals.

With this Union authorisation, this technology can also be used as the basis for approved ready-to-use hand-disinfection products.

Aquaox Listed as an Approved Manufacturing Site

An important element of the Union authorisation is the inclusion of ACS B.V. / Aquaox B.V. in the Netherlands as an approved manufacturer and manufacturing site for ECA Disinfect skin Product family 7.

This provides Aquaox with a regulatory framework to manufacture compliant products falling within the authorised biocidal product family.

For customers and distribution partners, this creates opportunities for the supply of ready-to-use bottled HOCl hand-disinfection products, subject to the authorised formulations, concentrations, packaging, labelling, claims and conditions of use.

It also represents an important step in Aquaox’s strategy of combining our ECA generation technology with an increasingly comprehensive portfolio of ready-to-use biocidal products.

EU-Wide Authorisation Until 2036

Unlike a national biocidal product authorisation, a Union Authorisation provides a harmonised regulatory basis for making the authorised products available across the European Union, subject to the requirements and conditions laid down in the authorisation and applicable local requirements.

The authorisation has been granted under:

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/750 of 31 March 2026

Product family: ECA Disinfect skin Product family 7
Authorisation number: EU-0035043-0000
Product Type: PT1 – Human Hygiene
Approved use: Hand disinfection – non-medical application
Active substance: Active chlorine released from hypochlorous acid
Authorisation holder: ECA Consortium A/S
Authorised manufacturer: ACS B.V. / Aquaox production site
Valid: 21 April 2026 – 31 March 2036

Part of a Broader Aquaox EU Biocidal Portfolio

The PT1 authorisation is part of a much broader development for Aquaox.

In addition to ECA Disinfect skin Product family 7, Aquaox/ACS is also an approved manufacturer within ECA Disinfect Product family 5, which received Union Authorisation in 2026 for:

PT2 – Disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals

For professional disinfection of surfaces, materials, equipment and environments.

PT4 – Food and feed area

For disinfection applications associated with the production, preparation, transport, storage and consumption of food and feed.

PT5 – Drinking water

For products intended for the disinfection of drinking water.

Together, these authorisations provide Aquaox with access to an exceptionally broad range of regulated applications for ECA/HOCl technology.

From Human Hygiene to Food and Drinking Water

The combination of the two authorised product families gives Aquaox access to four strategically important BPR Product Types:

PT1 – Human Hygiene
Non-medical hand disinfection

PT2 – General and Professional Disinfection
Surface, equipment and environmental disinfection

PT4 – Food & Feed
Disinfection within food and beverage processing environments

PT5 – Drinking Water
Drinking-water disinfection

This enables Aquaox to support customers across multiple markets with both ready-to-use packaged products and on-site ECA generation technology.

Bottled Products and On-Site ECA Generation

Aquaox has traditionally specialised in systems that generate ECA/HOCl solutions directly at the customer’s location.

For larger industrial users, on-site generation offers significant advantages. The disinfectant can be generated where it is required, reducing transportation and storage requirements and providing a continuously available source of freshly produced solution.

The new regulatory position adds another important possibility: ready-to-use bottled and packaged products.

This means Aquaox can provide solutions for both ends of the market:

Ready-to-use HOCl products for applications where relatively small quantities, convenience and direct availability are important.

On-site Aquaox ECA generation systems for customers requiring larger and continuous volumes of disinfectant.

The appropriate solution can therefore be selected according to application, consumption, infrastructure and operational requirements.

A Major Step Forward for Aquaox in Europe

The Union authorisations for PT1, PT2, PT4 and PT5 represent an important milestone in the development of Aquaox.

They combine our experience in ECA generator technology with a long-term European regulatory framework for HOCl-based biocidal products.

For our customers and international distribution partners, this creates new opportunities in markets including:

• Human hygiene and non-medical hand disinfection
• Professional and institutional hygiene
• Food and beverage processing
• Surface and equipment disinfection
• Water treatment
• Drinking-water disinfection

With EU authorisations extending until 2036, Aquaox is well positioned to further develop both its on-site generation systems and ready-to-use ECA/HOCl product portfolio throughout Europe.

Interested in Aquaox ECA/HOCl products?

Aquaox works with customers and distribution partners throughout Europe.

Contact us to discuss ready-to-use HOCl products, bottled products, private-label opportunities, distribution partnerships or on-site ECA generation systems.