Hand sanitizers key to fight Covid, no need to take licence to sell them

Through the official notification, the Government has clarified that there is no need to take a licence under the Drugs and cosmetics law to store and sell hand sanitizers, writes Deputy News Editor, ETV Bharat, Krishnanand Tripathi.

New Delhi: Despite intense lobbying by drug dealers and pharmacists, the Union government has officially exempted alcohol-based hand sanitizers from the purview of British era Drugs & Cosmetics Act, saying that they are essential in the country’s fight against the COVID-19 and their easy availability is in the larger public interest.

“In exercise of powers conferred by the section 26B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, the Central Government directs that the drug, namely, hand sanitizer, shall be exempted from the requirement of sale licence under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940,” Health and Family Welfare department said in a notification issued on Monday.

The Union government, however, clarified that any person selling and stocking hand sanitizers will be required to comply with the provisions of the drugs and cosmetics rules of 1945.

The notification issued on Monday has formally ended the tussle over the right to sell alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The gazette notification allows any shop or store to stock and sells hand sanitizers without the need to obtain a licence under the Drugs and cosmetics law.

Setback for drug dealers, chemists

It is a huge setback to drug dealers and pharmacists who have been lobbying for restricting the sale of alcohol-based hand sanitizers through medical stores only.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 21, a copy of which was reviewed by ETV Bharat, the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) said that there was no shortage of hand sanitizers in the country and allowing non-licensed entities to sell sanitizers may lead to selling of substandard hand sanitizers.

However, the Centre rejected the argument of drug dealers and pharmacists and officially exempted alcohol-based hand sanitizers from the purview of the drugs and cosmetics law on Monday.

“The central government is satisfied that hand sanitizers are essential to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to COVID-19 pandemic and their easy availability is made in the public interest,” said Mandeep K Bhandari, joint secretary in the health and family welfare department.