To meet the growing demand of hand sanitizers/ hand rubs by the public in view of health emergency, Punjab Drug Administration Commissionerate has granted permission to distilleries to manufacture and supply sanitizers/hand rubs.
KS Pannu, Commissioner Food & Drug Administration, Punjab informed that that the distilleries registered with Excise and Taxation Department have been asked to strictly adhere to the World Health Organisation (WHO) formulation for the purpose.
The permission has been granted on temporary basis for a period of 10 days, keeping in view the emergency conditions created due to spread of novel Corona virus COVID-19. The manufacturers will have to ensure the supply of products only to the state government and its institutions and no part of it will be supplied outside the state.
Directions have also been issued that the producers will use the standardized materials only and shall supply the material at price which shall not be more than the price fixed by the central and the state governments.
Drug control officers of the area shall inspect the manufacturing units on daily basis to take stock of quality, and quantity of production and its supply. The units have been asked to maintain proper record of the manufacturing and supply of the material.
In the wake of emergency conditions arising out of spread of COVID -19, it has become necessary to ensure the availability of essential medical items required for the prevention of spread of virus. It is essential to make hand sanitizers/hand rubs abundantly available for use of public, health workers and other functionaries associated with the task of prevention and spread of the deadly infection.
There are reports that the demand of hand sanitizers/ hand rubs is growing day by day and the existing manufacturing facilities are not able to meet the expanding demand, said Pannu.
Taking advantage of demand and supply mismatch many traders are indulging in black marketing of the product. Even the manufacturers are printing exorbitant prices on the labels of bottles of sanitizers. So it is important to augment the production of hand sanitizers/ hand rubs, he added.
