We are pleased to invite you to the combined ECA Industry Association Member Meeting and ECA Consortium Member Meeting, taking place in Helsinki, Finland, on Thursday 16 April and Friday 17 April 2026.

This two-day gathering brings together members from across Europe to exchange insights, strengthen collaboration, and shape the next phase of the hypochlorous acid (HOCl) industry.

Why attend

During the meeting, you will have the opportunity to:

• Gain insights into HOCl industry cluster markets and their momentum
• Learn from peer success stories across different application areas
• Contribute to shaping the ECA Industry Association goals for 2026–2027
• Receive updates on the status of biocide registrations and regulatory developments
• Participate in the ECA Industry Association General Assembly
• Connect informally with colleagues from across the European HOCl ecosystem

Practical information

Venues

• Thursday, 16 April 2026
Postitalo
Mannerheiminaukio 1, 00100 Helsinki

link to map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YSXRL76B4uqhDqvc7

• Friday, 17 April 2026
NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa Hotel

link to map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MPiWV17J6cidXTxQ6

Dates: Thursday 16 April – Friday 17 April 2026

The event itself is free of charge.
Please note that food and beverages may be charged separately (~ 100 €).

Accommodation

Some of the event participants have already selected the following hotels for their stay:

• Scandic Grand Central Helsinki

link to map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dqh8DSFDHJD6gA237

• NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa

link to map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MPiWV17J6cidXTxQ6

If you would like enjoy our group booking discounted prices with those hotel reservations, please let us know and we will be happy to help. Otherwise, You may select the hotel of your choice.

Registration

To support event planning, we kindly ask you to confirm your participation by
18 February 2026.

Please confirm attendance by email: info@eca-industry.org

Preliminary Agenda

Thursday, 16 April 2026

10:30–11:00
Welcome & objectives of the meeting
Ville Sarja & Peter Madsen

11:00–12:00
HOCl industry cluster success stories
• Success story 1 – TBD
• Success story 2 – TBD
• Success story 3 – TBD

12:00–13:00
Lunch

13:00–14:00
HOCl industry clusters: momentum & outlook
Panel discussion

14:00–15:15
ECA Industry Association goals for 2026–2027
Interactive group work

15:15–15:30
Coffee break

15:30–16:45
ECA Industry Association General Assembly

16:45–17:00
Closure of Day 1

19:00
Evening programme

Friday, 17 April 2026

08:30–10:00
Status of ongoing applications
Michael Fink / Michael Wick

10:00–10:30
Coffee break

10:30–11:15
Changes to BPRs enabling new use cases

11:15–12:00
Update on efficacy data
Michael Wick

12:00–13:00
Lunch

13:00–14:30
ECHA presentation
ECHA

14:30–15:15
ECA Industry Association update
Ville Sarja

15:15–15:45
Coffee break

15:45–17:00
ECA Consortium General Assembly
(for ECA Consortium shareholders only)

19:00 onwards
Gala dinner for all participants

We look forward to welcoming you to Helsinki for two days of discussion, collaboration, and community building within the HOCl industry.

Warm regards,

Ville Sarja
Chairman of the Board
ECA Industry Association

WELCOME

To our most recent update from ECA Industry Association!
As we, as an industry, move through the BPR regulatory process, many of us have identified the need for an industry association so that our views and concerns can be represented at the highest levels. Today we have better chances to influence than ever earlier. In order to do our influencing work, we have outlined a press release related to ethanol. Please do translate the press release to your own language and distribute it in your own channels.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
ECA Industry Association Warns: Prepare Now for a Future Without Ethanol in Key Applications

Helsinki, June 1, 2025 – The Electrochemical Activation (ECA) Industry Association today issued a call to action to all sectors reliant on ethanol-based products, following regulatory developments indicating that ethanol may soon face significant usage restrictions—or even a ban—in several biocidal and disinfectant applications under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has formally identified ethanol as meeting exclusion criteria due to its classification as a substance potentially carcinogenic and toxic to reproduction (Category 1A/1B). This puts ethanol at risk of substitution and eventual phase-out from multiple use cases where safer, viable alternatives exist.

Transition Is No Longer Optional — It’s Urgent
Industries including healthcare, food service, consumer goods, and public hygiene that depend heavily on ethanol-based formulations must begin evaluating and transitioning to alternative technologies. Waiting for a regulatory deadline could expose companies to operational disruptions, cost inflation, and loss of regulatory compliance.

“The science is clear, and the regulatory signals are stronger than ever. Ethanol’s days as a default disinfectant are likely numbered in the EU,” said Ville Sarja, Chair of the ECA Industry Association. “We strongly urge all affected sectors to prepare now. Viable and scalable alternatives like hypochlorous acid (HOCl) already exist, offering broad-spectrum efficacy, safety, and sustainability.”

Hypochlorous Acid: A Safer, Compliant Future

HOCl is a naturally occurring, fast-acting antimicrobial agent that has demonstrated effectiveness across a wide range of pathogens. Already approved for use in many biocidal product types and supported by a growing number of industrial players, HOCl represents a sustainable and human-friendly alternative that aligns with Europe’s Green Deal goals and the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability.

The ECA Industry Association and its members are actively investing in:

• Scalable HOCl manufacturing solutions for industrial and institutional applications
• Education and technical support for transitioning formulations
• Regulatory guidance to help businesses remain compliant across EU and UK markets

Industry Must Act Proactively

Companies are advised to conduct portfolio risk assessments, initiate reformulation projects, and engage with suppliers and regulatory experts without delay. Early movers will benefit from cost efficiencies, reduced regulatory risks, and stronger ESG positioning.

The ECA Industry Association remains committed to supporting the transition to safe and sustainable biocidal solutions. A future without ethanol in critical applications is no longer hypothetical — it is rapidly approaching.

About ECA Industry Association

The ECA Industry Association represents leading manufacturers and innovators of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Our mission is to advocate for safe, science-backed, and environmentally responsible solutions that meet the evolving needs of public health, industry, and regulatory frameworks.

Media Contact:
Ville Sarja
Chairman
ECA Industry Association
Email: info@eca-industry.org
Phone: +358 50 3030 573

Thank you for taking time to read our press release and to distribute it further.
On behalf of the ECA Industry Association board,
Ville Sarja, Chairman

WELCOME

To our ECA Industry Association Newsletter!
As we, as an industry, move through the BPR regulatory process, many of us have identified the need for an industry association so that our views and concerns can be represented at the highest levels. Today we have better chances to influence than ever earlier. ECA Industry Association was accepted by ECHA to become an Accredited Stakeholder Organization (ASO). As an ASO, we are invited to take part in various working groups, including CLP and BPR legislation development, and to comment on guidelines related to enforcement activities, labelling guidelines and more. As a member you have a chance to get a seat at those meetings and workshops, present our industry and hear the latest developments. You may read more about ECHA ASO matters here: https://echa.europa.eu/about-us/partners-and-networks/stakeholders/echas-accredited-stakeholder-organisations
Board of Directors:
• Ville Sarja, Chairman
• Torben Faurby, Board Director
• Peter Madsen, Board Director
• Philipp Kunze, Board Director
• Tor Wauer, Board Director
• Damien Byrne, Board Director

Meeting Minutes of General Assembly

The General Assembly took place as a Teams meeting on 22 April 2025 at 14:00 CET.
15 member companies were present, including: Portsmouth Aviation, Luna IP, VDH Water Technology, Swiss D&W Technology, Aqualution, TOAF, Innowatech, Briotech, ECA Consortium, KS Natec, HyperDES Watertechnology, Activated Water and Watair.
Torben Faurby was selected as Chairman of the General Assembly and Peter Madsen as Secretary.
The meeting was held according to the association bylaws. Chairman Ville Sarja presented the Chairman’s report, highlighting the approval of the association as an Accredited Stakeholder Organization by the European Chemicals Agency and identifying key focus areas for the future. Future plans include leveraging the ASO role, adjusting membership fees, and initiatives like ethanol replacement, defence sector involvement, and energy performance improvements.
The Chairman’s report was accepted and adopted.
Peter Madsen presented the budget with a profit of €3,400. Members discussed membership fees; the final decision was to set the membership fee at €500 with an option for smaller companies to pay €200 as associate members. The Board may decide detailed criteria for membership fee alternatives, and invoices will be sent in May 2025.
The existing six board members were re-elected:
• Damien Byrne
• Tor Wauer
• Ville Sarja
• Phillip Kunze
• Peter Madsen
• Torben Faurby
Torben Faurby and Damien Byrne were elected as Auditors.
A data protection concern under Articles 59.5 and 60 of the BPR was raised, and it was agreed that ECA Industry Association will contact ECHA regarding revision of those articles.
The General Assembly accepted discharge of liabilities to the Board.

ECA Industry Update: Ethanol Under Substitution Review – Time to Act

In a move that may reshape the disinfectant formulation landscape in Europe, ECA Industry Association, together with the ECA Consortium, formally submitted its response to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s public consultation on ethanol as a potential substitution candidate under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). This comes as ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) classified ethanol in October 2024 as meeting exclusion criteria due to suspected carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity (Category 1A/1B), with ongoing evaluation of mutagenicity. The Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) is in progress; the consultation ended in April 2025, and a Commission decision is expected in 2026.
This matters because ethanol is widely used in hand and surface disinfectants. Its regulatory challenges may open the door for broader adoption of alternatives with strong safety and efficacy profiles, like hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
What Could Happen Next?
• Possible regulatory restrictions on ethanol-based products, especially in healthcare or consumer settings.
• Stricter compliance requirements for continued ethanol use.
• Increased demand for alternatives with lower health and environmental risks.
• Market shifts as procurement guidelines prioritise non-alcoholic disinfectants.
A Call to Readiness
ECA Industry Association urges members, especially those developing or distributing HOCl-based products, to take action:

1. Review product portfolios and identify where ethanol formulations may need substitution.
2. Prepare technical dossiers and performance data supporting HOCl as a viable alternative under BPR.
3. Engage regulatory affairs experts to ensure readiness for evolving compliance.
4. Monitor procurement trends and communicate with affected clients.
   ECA Industry Association will continue coordinating industry dialogue, advocating for fair, science-based evaluations, and supporting members in navigating this transition. Stay tuned for upcoming webinars and technical guidance.

Membership fees and invoices

As decided in the General Assembly, invoices for membership in 2025 will be sent out soon. The membership fee for 2025 is €500.

Thank you for taking time to read our newsletter.

On behalf of the ECA Industry Association board,
Ville Sarja
Chairman

WELCOME

To our ECA Industry Association Newsletter!
As we, as an industry, move through the BPR regulatory process, many of us have identified the need for an industry association so that our views and concerns can be represented at the highest levels. Today we have better chances to influence than ever before. ECA Industry Association was accepted by ECHA to become an Accredited Stakeholder Organization (ASO).

As an ASO, we are invited to take part in various working groups, including CLP and BPR legislation development, and to comment on various aspects of guidelines related to enforcement activities, labeling guidelines and more. As a member, you have a chance to get a seat at these meetings and workshops, present our industry and hear the latest developments.

Board of Directors:
• Ville Sarja, Chairman
• Torben Faurby, Board Director
• Peter Madsen, Board Director
• Philipp Kunze, Board Director
• Marco van Schaik, Board Director
• Tor Wauer, Board Director
• Gary Driscoll, Board Director
• Damien Byrne, Board Director

Benefits to Members

• Input to a forum that will fight for our needs within our industry.
• Access to our newsletter to keep up to date with all BPR & ECHA matters.
• Access to our technical area where companies can share and exchange case studies.
• Access to our members forum, where questions can be raised and answered by fellow members.

Membership is open to any company working in the ECA industry.
Membership fee: 180 € per annum.
As part of the registration process, each company will be required to sign a code of ethics. This can be found on our web page.

Hypochlorous acid and ECO Label Cosmetics

Hypochlorous acid is not accepted as an ingredient in Nordic Swan ECO labeled cosmetics products.
ECA Industry Association has had an extensive consultation with the Nordic Swan expert organization about the characteristics, benefits, risks and manufacturing methods of hypochlorous acid. Regardless of the data provided to defend the ability to apply an ECO label for hypochlorous acid cosmetics products, they decided to maintain their fundamental principle to exclude ingredients having antimicrobial properties.

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275)

Maybe you are already aware of the EU directive EU 2024/1275 EPBD and that it can offer potential interest for your business. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) entered into force in all EU countries on 28 May 2024 and helps increase the rate of renovation in the EU, particularly for the worst-performing buildings in each country.

Main points of the directive:
• All EU Member States have to establish an action plan by 2030 where private buildings must be at least energy class E; by 2033 they must upgrade to energy class D or better.
• By 2050, no building in the EU will be allowed to produce direct CO₂ emissions or use fossil fuels for heating.

The EPBD directive aims to increase building renovation rates, reduce energy consumption, and promote renewable energy uptake. It also sets ambitious targets to achieve these objectives.

This presents a challenge for all countries, and they look to the innovation of indigenous industries for solutions. Hot water use in buildings is constant — all countries in the EU require hot water to be stored between 55 °C and 65 °C to prevent legionella and other pathogens. Installation of an ECA generator to dose the water tanks and lines can eliminate this risk, allowing hot water storage set points to be reduced to as low as 45 °C, offering significant energy savings and CO₂ reductions.

Danish companies Adepts Water Technologies A/S and Danish Clean Water A/S have gained experience with this application and are working with a lobbyist to get it implemented as part of EU 2024/1275 in Denmark and other EU countries. ECA Industry Association can assist members with implementing this directive, but representation by a trade association is required.

An online information day will be scheduled soon to share experience and a roadmap. Contact board member Peter Madsen for questions: Peter@ecaconsortium.com, phone: +45 5152 6152.

General Assembly

The next ECA Industry Association General Assembly will take place on 23 April 2025 at 14:00 CET as a Teams meeting.
Please let us know your interest in participation by Friday 11 April. You may inform us of your participation via the contact form on the ECA Industry Association website.

Benefits of Membership

Input to a forum that will fight for our needs within our industry.

Access to our newsletter to keep up to date with all BPR & ECHA matters.

Access to our technical area where companies can share and exchange case studies.

Access to our members forum, where questions can be raised and answered by fellow members.

Board of Directors

Ville Sarja , Chairman
Torben Faurby, Board Director
Peter Madsen, Board Director
Philipp Kunze, Board Director
Marco van Schaik, Board Director
Tor Wauer, Board Director
Gary Driscoll, Board Director
Damien Byrne, Director

www.eca-industry.org web site

The setup of a professional web site, where we can openly share our vision as an association and have an area where all our members can express their opinions is essential. Thank you for taking time to read our newsletter.

Consortium News

As an Industry Association, we aim to establish close communication and partnerships with all consortia working on behalf of our members. Several consortia have submitted applications for the following substances:

• Active Chlorine generated from sodium Chloride by electrolysis (In-situ)
• Active Chlorine released from Hypochlorous Acid (Bottle)

In discussions with our colleagues in the ECA Consortium, they have graciously provided the following update on the Product Authorization EU:

The EU product authorization application is progressing well. The Danish eCA (Miljøstyrelsen) has raised additional questions about the application submitted in July 2022. Some questions have been answered, and others are still in progress.

ECA Consortium A/S anticipates no issues in responding to the raised questions and expects approval for In-situ by the beginning of 2025 and for Bottle by the beginning of 2026.

Application in the UK (In-situ):
Currently, there is no requirement for an application for In-situ. The HSE has set a deadline of August 2023 for companies interested in applying for In-situ. ECA Consortium A/S submitted an expression of interest in 2022 and a formal application in January 2024. The expectation is to appear on the HSE Article 95 list shortly, and there will be a yet-to-be-determined deadline for companies to be legally present on the UK market.

We seek input from all the relevant consortia and will engage with them for contributions to our future newsletters.

WELCOME

To the first ECA Industry Association Newsletter!

As we, as an industry, move through the BPR regulatory process, many of us have identified the need for an industry association so that our views and concerns can be represented at the highest levels.

The goal of this industry association is to perform this task on behalf of all its members in a fair and transparent way.

For us to be successful, and have a meaningful impact as an association, requires strength in numbers. We need as many companies as possible to join our association to give us the leverage to be heard at the highest level and the mandate to cover all aspects of our industry.

Like most industry associations, the first step is always the hardest. We need members to join to not only give us the legitimacy that is required for any industry association but also the budget to set up the basic foundations correctly.

On behalf of the ECA Industry Association board,
Ville Sarja
Chairman

Would you like to have an impact on the new criteria for ECO LABEL cosmetics?

ECA IA has received a request from the Nordic Swan ECO label to provide feedback on the proposed cosmetics criteria. The draft criteria will be released on March 8th, and comments are accepted until April 29th, 2024. Members of ECA IA are encouraged to share their insights for ECA IA’s response to the Nordic Swan cosmetics draft criteria.

ECA IA is organizing an information session on this topic on March 14th at 1 pm CET.

You can express your interest in attending the information session by email us at info@eca-industry.org or following the link on our web site www.eca-industry.org.

Accredited Stakeholder Organization (ASO)

ECA Industry Association has applied for the role of an Accredited Stakeholder Organization (ASO) with ECHA as of 13th February 2024.

The benefit of being an Accredited Stakeholder Organization in ECHA is the ability to influence the development of biocidal product regulation (BPR) and to get up-to-date information from ECHA.

Cooperation with accredited stakeholders contributes to an efficient information flow both from the field to ECHA and vice versa. Accredited stakeholder organizations can support ECHA’s work through various bodies and networks.

ECA Industry Association has requested to work with the Biocidal Products Committee. ECHA will respond to our application latest by mid-May 2024.