Source: European Parliament
The Commission recognises the importance of maintaining high hygiene standards in public toilets to prevent the transmission of microbes and ensure a safe and healthy environment for citizens.
There are currently no European Standards relating to hygiene in public toilets and the Commission does not plan to implement a ‘hygiene score’.
The Commission notes however that similar efforts have been made in other sectors, such as railways and mobile cabins, where standards have been developed to ensure high hygiene standards.
For example, the European standard EN 17863:2023 provides requirements for hygiene and cleanliness on railway vehicles, including toilets and hand wash facilities, while EN 16194:2023 sets out requirements for mobile non-sewer-connected toilet cabins, including minimum quality requirements and on-site service standards.
While there is no general guidance on hygiene available, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) offers a variety of sources regarding hand-hygiene, mainly related to healthcare settings[1].
However, it is important to promote general hand-wash and hygiene rules for the prevention on communicable diseases and educational material for the public is available[2]. In addition, ECDC promotes World Hand Hygiene Day[3].