News Archive

2025 was another very active year for Dr. Brill Institutes, marked by inspiring encounters, intensive professional exchanges, joint activities, and social engagement. In addition to the many professional events in which we participated once again – such as our own 11th Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology (CAHMV) – the focus was, of course, once again on people and partnership.

A particular highlight was our wonderful summer party, which took place together with colleagues and customers in the courtyard of our headquarters in Hamburg-Hummelsbüttel. Two milestones were celebrated at the same time: 30 years of Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH and 15 years of management by Dr. Florian H. H. Brill. In a relaxed summer atmosphere – and with almost no rain! – personal exchanges once again demonstrated how valuable trusting cooperation and long-standing partnerships are to us.

2025 was also a strong year in terms of sports: our participation in the Blankeneser Heldenlauf (Blankenese Heroes Run) demonstrated team spirit, cohesion, and commitment – and above all, it was a lot of fun for everyone involved!

Social responsibility remains an important concern for us. That is why we made donations again at Christmas, once more supporting FUTUREPRENEUR e.V. and tat für tat: malawi e.V. – two organizations that are committed to education, development, and fair opportunities in the long term. Our colleagues at Hydrotox also largely refrained from sending Christmas cards by post and instead made a donation to Ökostation Freiburg – Das Umweltbildungszentrum mit Charme (Freiburg Eco Station – The Environmental Education Center with Charm).

With gratitude, we look back on a varied and positive 2025 – and are very much looking forward to the next steps now! Some exciting innovations and projects are already in the pipeline – more on that soon.

We are starting the new year with confidence and energy – and wish all our employees, partners, and customers for 2026 lots of luck, health, and success on all levels!

We are extremely proud and delighted to welcome Dr. Toni Luise Meister as a new member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Dr. Brill Institutes. She combines excellent scientific expertise with broad experience in modern virology. With her remarkable scientific career, Toni Meister brings precisely the interdisciplinary expertise, strategic vision, and scientific credibility that will strengthen the Scientific Advisory Board of Dr. Brill Institutes in the long term:

Toni Luise Meister is a scientist at the IIRVD - Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Toni Meister earned a Bachelor of Science in Plant Biotechnology with a focus on molecular biology methods from Leibniz University Hannover in 2015. In 2017, she completed her Master of Science in Biomedicine at Hannover Medical School.

In 2021, she received her doctorate from the Department of Molecular and Medical Virology at Ruhr University Bochum. Her doctoral thesis focused on viral and host determinants in the hepatitis E virus replication cycle. She was also involved in various research projects on SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.

After completing her doctorate, Toni Meister worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the same department, where she was able to expand her virological knowledge of a wide range of viruses. Her work has been recognized several times with the Best Season Paper Award from the Society for Virology. She also served as an expert in the drafting of guidelines for dealing with aerosol-transmissible pathogens and is a member of the Society for Virology (GfV) and Infect-Net.

Since October 2023, she has been working as a senior postdoc in the DZIF research area Emerging Infections (link: HERE) at the Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development.

Link to Toni Meister's DZIF junior research group "Molecular Virology of Emerging Viruses": HERE

She is also an associate project leader (PI) in the Collaborative Research Center 1648 "Emerging Viruses". Link: HERE

ORCID  ---  Contact  ---  Scientific Advisory Board

We provide you with an independent and comprehensive market overview, recently updated again by our experts, of environmentally and climate-friendly biofouling management in professional shipping, on pleasure craft, in aquaculture and for pipe systems. This gives you an overview of which antifouling products are available. In combination with the free eLearning course "Biofouling-Management von Sportbooten" (Biofouling management for recreational boats) (link: HERE), you will be fully informed. To purchase the market overview simply send an email to: info@brillhygiene.com. The updated table of contents of the market overview can be downloaded here:

Biofilms are an often underestimated risk to hygiene and product safety. They serve as a reservoir for pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria especially in water-carrying systems such as drains, wet rooms, or sinks. This is exactly where our new, scientifically based testing service comes in.

Based on the methodology developed in the EU COMBAT project, we test disinfectants and hygiene solutions under realistic, practical conditions. We use biofilm samples from real environments, e.g., from hospital or household drains. This allows products to demonstrate their true performance in everyday use. 

At the heart of our innovation is a specially developed U-bend model that realistically replicates the complex environment of a drain. In this system, biofilms develop as they do in practice – resistant, heterogeneous, and challenging. This is exactly where we test the effectiveness of disinfectants. Through parallel tests with control samples and state-of-the-art analyses, we deliver reliable, reproducible results. On request, we offer further investigations, including sequencing. Our new service is flexible and can be adapted to different water-carrying systems. It provides certainty where traditional testing methods reach their limits.

In line with our SIMreal approach: practical, innovative, and scientifically tested. 

If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. We will advise you individually on your requirements.

"The new EN 17430: Testing hand disinfectants for virus effectiveness on contaminated hands" - This publication appeared in aseptica, issue no. 3 2025. Contents: EN 17430 recently introduced a practical method in Europe for testing the virus-inactivating properties of hand disinfectants on artificially contaminated hands. The non-human pathogenic murine norovirus (MNV) is used as the test virus. The details of this test are described therein, followed by an evaluation of this new method for use in hygienic hand disinfection.
You can find further information about this publication here: LINK

The interview conducted by Dr. Florian H. H. Brilll and Dr. Dajana Paulmann on the subject of EN 17430 can be found here: Interview

Our Scientific Service team will be happy to provide you with advice or a non-binding quote for tests in accordance with EN 17430. Contact: HERE

Do you use biocidal products containing ethanol (CAS No. 64-17-5)? If so, you should pay close attention!

Biocidal products containing ethanol as an active substance currently benefit from national transitional measures that simplify the marketing process. In Germany, for example, such products can currently be marketed without authorisation. However, this situation may change in the future. The competent Greek authority has been evaluating ethanol for product types PT1, PT2 and PT4 for over 15 years. As a 'backlog dossier', it still falls under the transitional provisions of the old Biocidal Products Directive (BPD, Directive 98/8/EC).

In October 2024, the BPC Human Health Working Group reached the preliminary conclusion that ethanol exhibits potential carcinogenic and reprotoxic properties. This means that the active substance meets the ‘exclusion criteria’ of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012) and is considered a candidate for substitution in accordance with Article 10(1). A public consultation was then launched.

Public consultation and decision-making

From 25 February to 28 April 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) conducted a public consultation to gather information on possible alternatives to ethanol and any potential exemptions. In response to this call, the Agency received 356 submissions from industry, associations, and institutions.

However, at the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) meeting on 26 November 2025, no consensus could be reached on the potential hazards of ethanol and its alternatives. Apparently, concerns about the possible far-reaching consequences of a CMR classification and its proportionality were too great. From today's perspective, a final BPC opinion is not expected before May 2026. The Standing Committee on Biocidal Products, consisting of representatives from the member states, will then make the actual decision on the approval of ethanol. A concrete timetable for this is not yet available. We will continue to keep you informed of all relevant developments.

What are your next steps?

If the EU Commission approves ethanol for the relevant product types, a two-year transition period will begin. From today's perspective, manufacturers would therefore be required to submit their product dossiers to the ECHA by 2028 at the earliest in order to maintain market access for their products.

If you manufacture or sell ethanol-containing products and are unsure about the steps you need to take, Dr. Brill Regulatory Services can support you.

We can help you to understand the regulatory requirements, evaluate options for action, and design the entire authorisation process for your affected products strategically and efficiently.

We are planning to establish a consortium to coordinate the approval of ethanol-based disinfectants for use in the European healthcare sector.

If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

Please click here to contact us directly.

On 27-28 November 2025, the 11th Conference of Applied Hygiene, Microbiology and Virology (CAHMV) took place. The conference, organised by DR. BRILL INSTITUTES, once again impressed participants on site at the maritime AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt and online on their screens with a wide range of specialist presentations and other highlights.

Workshop premiere with extraordinary insights: For the first time since 2019, CAHMV kicked off with a practice-oriented workshop on the topic of “Efficacy testing of antimicrobial products.” Exclusive video insights into our test laboratories in Hamburg and Bremen, as well as the explanations by Dr. Andreas Kampe and Dr. Dajana Paulmann, ensured a lively and informative start.

High-caliber keynotes: Professor Dr. Martin Exner explained the crucial importance of water quality for infection prevention and control in healthcare. Professor Dr. Andreas Voss spoke about current developments influencing infection prevention: from AI to environmental protection. On the second day of the conference, Dr. Florian H. H. Brill gave a comprehensive overview of the status and future development of efficacy testing of antimicrobial products.

Diverse specialist sessions and active exchange: Sessions led by Professor Eike Steinmann and Professor Jörg Steinmann offered further exciting insights into topics such as (re-)emerging viruses, AI-supported sequencing, and genome profiling. The session led by Dr. Gunnar Kleist focused on regulatory developments, while the presentations in the session led by Professor Dirk Bockmühl addressed topics related to household hygiene.

The panel discussion identified the following three areas for improvement for the REFIT of the BPR: 1.) We must emphasize much more strongly than before the indispensable importance of the application of biocidal products, e.g., for infection prevention, food, medical device, and drug production, as well as the sustainable use of materials. 2.) We need a risk-benefit assessment for the evaluation of biocidal products, not just a risk assessment as has been the case to date. 3.) We need an innovation booster for sustainable active substances and biocidal products. To achieve this, the process must become faster and more agile.

The active participation of the attendees and the excellent networking in the breaks and during the pre-Christmas evening program rounded off the conference perfectly. We would like to thank all speakers and participants for their commitment, which once again made this event an outstanding success. CAHMV 2025 reaffirms its position as a high-caliber platform for professional exchange in the field of applied hygiene, microbiology, and virology. We look forward to the next CAHMV conference!

In mid-January, DR. BRILL INSTITUTES will be represented at the 10th International Conference on Polar and Alpine Microbiology. Dr. Florian H. H. Brill and Masumeh Kashiri are in Copenhagen, and Masumeh Kashiri will give a presentation there on 15 January 2026, at 2:30 p.m. entitled: “Pathogenicity-Related Traits in Bacteria from the Stubai Glacier.”

The goal of the conference is to bring together global researchers to explore various aspects of microbial diversity, function, and activity of cold-adapted microorganisms in polar and alpine environments. The conference will provide a platform for discussing the latest developments in the field, fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences on an international scale. All further information regarding the 10th International Conference on Polar and Alpine Microbiology can be found at the following link: HERE

The "Maritime Technologies 2025" status conference includes selected contributions on successful projects from the Maritime Research Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie, BMWE) and is organized by Projektträger Jülich on behalf of the BMWE. Dr. Brill + Partner Institute for Antifouling and Biocorrosion, Norderney, will be represented on site by Bernd Daehne and Soyla Kraus. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet our colleagues from Norderney in Berlin. The conference will be held in German on 10 + 11 December 2025, at the Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin, exclusively in person. Participation is free of charge. The conference program and the link for registration can be found HERE.

Hydrotox Labor für Ökotoxikologie und Gewässerschutz GmbH (Laboratory for Ecotoxicology and Water Protection) can now be reached at the following new telephone number: +49 761 216393-0. Please update your records accordingly. The extension numbers remain valid. Our Hydrotox colleagues in Freiburg look forward to your call. All contact details for the DR. BRILL INSTITUTES group can be found here: Contact

A poster co-authored by Dr. Florian H. H. Brill was presented at the ACIPC International Conference in Australia. Title: “In Vivo Assessment of ABHR Dose Size on Antimicrobial Efficacy – 1.5mL is Optimal.” The abstract and additional authors can be found at the following link: HERE

From 21st to 22nd October 2025, the CRO days (Contract research organisation days) took place for the second time in Helsinki, with Andrea Brunswik-Titze from Hydrotox GmbH attending. The meeting was organised by the ECHA (European Chemical Agency) and was addressed to CROs from the OECD region in order to promote exchange between regulatory authorities and testing laboratories. A total of 27 CROs from the EU, Ukraine, the UK, Switzerland, the USA, India and Japan attended the meeting to discuss regulatory requirements as well as the technical challenges involved in conducting ecotoxicological studies and biodegradability studies for REACH purposes. The topics focused on substances that are difficult to test in aquatic toxicity tests, simulation studies on degradation and bioaccumulation, and the importance of test material characterization and analytical challenges. The exchange was considered very valuable by both ECHA and the CROs, and further meetings of this kind are to follow in the future.

Further information on the event including the meeting summary can be found HERE.