The EU is considering classifying it ethanolan ingredient used in many hand sanitizers, as a dangerous substance that increases the risk of cancer, according to a report in the Financial Times, today Tuesday.

An internal recommendation on 10 October by one of the working groups within the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) characterized ethanol as a toxic substancewhich increased risk of cancer and complications during pregnancythe FT reported, and had to be replaced in cleaning products and more.

ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee is due to meet between 25 and 28 November.

The regulator said that if its panel of experts “concludes that ethanol is carcinogenic”, it will recommend its replacement, the FT reports, adding that the final decision will be made by the European Commission.

The European Chemicals Agency told the Financial Times that ethanol may “continue to be approved for the intended biocidal uses if these are considered safe taking into account expected levels of exposure or if no alternatives are found”, stressing that no decision has yet been made.

The World Health Organization classifies both ethanol and isopropanol as safe for hand hygiene.