diff --git a/irs-policy-store/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/irs/policystore/common/DateUtils.java b/irs-policy-store/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/irs/policystore/common/DateUtils.java
index bc2035751..6665d74e8 100644
--- a/irs-policy-store/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/irs/policystore/common/DateUtils.java
+++ b/irs-policy-store/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/irs/policystore/common/DateUtils.java
@@ -27,7 +27,11 @@
 /**
  * Date utilities.
  */
-public class DateUtils {
+public final class DateUtils {
+
+    private DateUtils() {
+        // private constructor (utility  class)
+    }
 
     public static boolean isDateBefore(final OffsetDateTime dateTime, final String referenceDateString) {
         return dateTime.isBefore(toOffsetDateTimeAtStartOfDay(referenceDateString));