diff --git a/edc-extensions/bpn-validation/bpn-validation-core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/edc/validation/businesspartner/functions/BusinessPartnerGroupFunction.java b/edc-extensions/bpn-validation/bpn-validation-core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/edc/validation/businesspartner/functions/BusinessPartnerGroupFunction.java
index ffdd04b9e..9f05ddfea 100644
--- a/edc-extensions/bpn-validation/bpn-validation-core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/edc/validation/businesspartner/functions/BusinessPartnerGroupFunction.java
+++ b/edc-extensions/bpn-validation/bpn-validation-core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tractusx/edc/validation/businesspartner/functions/BusinessPartnerGroupFunction.java
@@ -140,7 +140,6 @@ private Set<String> parseRightOperand(Object rightValue, PolicyContext context)
         return null;
     }
 
-    @Deprecated(since = "0.8.1")
     @Deprecated(since = "0.9.0")
     private Boolean evaluateNotEquals(BpnGroupHolder bpnGroupHolder) {
         monitor.warning("%s is a deprecated operator, in future please use %s operator.".formatted(NEQ, IS_NONE_OF));