What Microbial Control Information Center does

The Microbial Control Information Center (MCIC), operating through the Microbial Control Executive Council (MCEC), is a Brussels-based industry association and advocacy body established in 2012 as a sector group within Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council. It is not a commercial product company; rather, it is an initiative of six leading microbial control suppliers — Arxada, BASF, ICL, LANXESS, SYENSQO, and Thor — that collectively develop and supply biocidal products, preservatives, disinfectants, sanitizers, water treatment agents, and antifouling/antimicrobial coatings regulated under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). MCEC's mission is to communicate the benefits and safe use of microbial control technologies to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public, and to advocate for science-based, coherent EU regulation on biocide policy.

Name

Microbial Control Information Center

Legal name

The European Chemical Industry Council, AISBL

Website

https://microbial-control.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brussels-based industry association operating within Cefic, representing six leading microbial control suppliers (Arxada, BASF, ICL, LANXESS, SYENSQO, Thor) to advocate for science-based EU biocide regulation and educate stakeholders on microbial control technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Management & Toxic Substances Compliance (TSCA, REACH, GHS/SDS, PFAS Programs) (EUAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Processing & GMP Sanitation (IMAIADAE), Supply Chain & Product Environmental Compliance (RoHS, WEEE, Packaging EPR, Eco-Design/Labeling Regulations) (EUAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Microbial control technologies
• Biocides regulation
• Chemical industry association
• EU policy advocacy
• Antimicrobial coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MCEC (operating the Microbial Control Information Center website) is an industry association and sector group within Cefic that communicates science-based information about microbial control technologies — including biocidal products, preservatives, disinfectants and sanitizers, water treatment agents, and antifouling/antimicrobial coatings — to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public. It does not sell or manufacture microbial control products; instead, it acts as the unified industry voice for its six member companies (Arxada, BASF, ICL, LANXESS, SYENSQO, Thor) and engages in EU regulatory advocacy, public education, and stakeholder communication.

Product overview

The Microbial Control Information Center (MCIC) is an informational initiative, not a product company. It is operated by the Microbial Control Executive Council (MCEC), an industry group within Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council). MCIC provides educational information about microbial control technologies, including biocidal products, preservatives, disinfectants, sanitizers, water treatment agents, and antifouling/antimicrobial coatings. These technologies are developed and supplied by MCEC member companies (Arxada, BASF, ICL, LANXESS, SYENSQO, Thor) and are regulated under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). The organization itself does not manufacture or sell products but serves as a reference point for stakeholders to understand the benefits of microbial control technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microbial Control Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement Service
• Educational Content Library and Newsletter Subscription

Quantifiable outcome

• HCAI rate in Europe: 4.6% to 9.3% of patients affected, underscoring the critical need for microbial control in healthcare settings
• +8 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCEC is an initiative operating as a sector group within Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council. The website is hosted under the Cefic domain structure, and MCEC's contact address is at Cefic's Brussels office (Rue Belliard, 40, 1040 Brussels). MCEC's newsletter and privacy policies reference Cefic's data management and regulatory frameworks.
• ArxadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArxada (formed from the 2022 merger of Arxada and Troy) is one of six member companies of MCEC. As a member, Arxada participates in MCEC's industry advocacy, regulatory engagement, and public education initiatives on microbial control technologies.
• BASFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASF is one of six member companies of MCEC. BASF's representative Markus Rösch serves as Vice-Chairman of MCEC. BASF participates in industry advocacy and regulatory engagement activities.
• ICLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICL joined MCEC in 2016 as one of the member companies. ICL participates in MCEC's industry advocacy and regulatory engagement activities related to microbial control technologies.
• LANXESScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLANXESS is one of six member companies of MCEC. In 2022, LANXESS completed the acquisition of IFF's microbial control business. LANXESS's representative Michael Schäfer previously served as MCEC Chair. LANXESS participates in MCEC's advocacy and public education initiatives.
• SYENSQOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYENSQO is one of six member companies of MCEC. Following industry mergers (IFF and DuPont's Nutrition & Biosciences merged in 2021, operating as IFF; LANXESS acquired IFF in 2022), SYENSQO represents a successor entity within the MCEC membership.
• ThorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThor joined MCEC in 2023, expanding the membership to six companies. As a member, Thor participates in MCEC's industry advocacy and regulatory engagement on microbial control technologies.
• Biocides for EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCEC collaborates with Biocides for Europe on joint educational content, including video productions that illustrate the societal importance of microbial control technologies and biocides across various applications.
• ECHA (European Chemicals Agency)minorOthersMCEC engages with ECHA on regulatory matters related to the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), including participation in enforcement projects (BEF-1, BEF-2) and providing input on Union authorisation procedures. MCEC monitors ECHA's assessment of active substances under BPR.
• EFSA (European Food Safety Agency)minorOthersMCEC monitors EFSA's work on active substances assessed under the Plant Protection Products Regulation (PPPR), noting overlaps with BPR assessments and advocating for the One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA) principle to streamline regulatory processes.
• WHO (World Health Organization)minorOthersMCEC references WHO's One Health approach and World Hand Hygiene Day campaigns. MCEC highlights how microbial control technologies support the WHO's One Health objectives by preventing disease in animals and reducing antibiotic use in livestock, thereby helping prevent antibiotic resistance.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council): Cefic is MCEC's parent association and the umbrella trade body for the European chemical industry. It is directly comparable as a sector advocacy platform, with broader scope across all chemical sub-sectors.
• American Chemistry Council (ACC): US trade association for the chemical industry. Comparable as a major regional industry advocacy body engaging regulators on chemicals legislation (e.g., TSCA), paralleling MCEC's role in the EU but at national scope and significantly larger scale.
• International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E.): European trade body for the detergents, maintenance, and home care industry. Highly comparable in structure (Brussels-based industry association) and overlapping regulatory concerns (biocides, disinfectants, preservatives used in detergent and cleaning formulations).
• European Coatings Association (CEPE): European trade association for the paints, coatings, printing inks, and artists' colours industry. Comparable as a Brussels-based Cefic partner that engages EU regulators on chemicals, sustainability, and product safety relevant to MCEC's preservative and antimicrobial coating remit.

Others

• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): EU agency providing scientific advice on food safety, including antimicrobial substances and food-contact materials. MCEC monitors EFSA's work on the Plant Protection Products Regulation as part of its regulatory engagement, making it a key counterpart.
• ECHA (European Chemicals Agency): EU agency that implements REACH, CLP, and BPR — the very regulations MCEC monitors and responds to. Directly comparable as a stakeholder in EU chemicals policy dialogue, though operating as a regulator rather than industry advocate.
• HealthCare Without Harm: International NGO coalition advocating for safer chemicals in healthcare. Comparable as a Brussels-active stakeholder shaping EU chemicals policy debates that MCEC engages with on biocide use in hospitals.

Direct peers

• Concawe: Brussels-based sector group of the European petroleum refining industry covering environmental, health, and safety advocacy. Directly comparable as a Cefic-hosted industry association providing scientific and regulatory input to EU institutions.
• CropLife Europe (formerly ECPA): European trade association representing the crop protection industry and based in Brussels. Highly comparable as a Cefic-aligned industry body focused on regulated chemistries (plant protection products) with parallel regulatory advocacy under EU law.
• Biocides for Europe: Closest peer: a Brussels-based industry initiative that advocates for the biocides sector in EU regulation. MCEC even co-produces video content with Biocides for Europe, indicating near-overlapping remit and stakeholder base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/antimicrobials
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Microbial Control Information Center