Ethylene Oxide Permitted for Cultural Heritage Protection in Poland!
We are delighted that this highly effective biocidal agent will continue to be used in conservation practice to protect cultural heritage objects held by museums, libraries and archives. We are also proud that the National Institute for Museums, together with the State Archives and the National Library of Poland, contributed to the preparation of the relevant application to the European Commission and successfully advocated for the interests of the cultural heritage sector.
How did this come about?
On 23 June 2025, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1074 of 2 June 2025 entered into force, not approving ethylene oxide as an existing active substance for use in biocidal products of product-type 2.
Given that ethylene oxide is used in fumigation, which is the most effective disinfection procedure for protecting cultural heritage objects, efforts were undertaken to restore the possibility of using the substance for this purpose.
The National Institute for Museums, together with museums, the State Archives and the National Library of Poland, prepared a specialised application for submission to the European Commission. Drawing on detailed analyses and the professional expertise of conservators, the institutions presented substantive arguments demonstrating the need to restore the possibility of using ethylene oxide to combat organisms harmful to cultural heritage objects, such as mould and bacteria.
Thanks to this initiative, supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Ministry of Health and the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, the European Commission adopted a decision allowing Poland to authorise biocidal products containing ethylene oxide for the protection of cultural heritage until 31 July 2031.
On 28 September 2026, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2146 of 25 September 2026 entered into force, allowing Poland to authorise biocidal products containing ethylene oxide for the protection of cultural heritage.
The full text of the Decision is available on the European Union website.