Punjab: Notice To 50 Firms Over Hazardous Sanitisers

Chandigarh, 22 July 2020:

Initiating action against the manufacturers of hand sanitisers containing high amount of methanol, the state’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the permission of a firm and initiated the process to act against two others.

Over 50 manufacturers, who were found not complying with the quality standards, have been issued show-cause notices.

According to FDA officials, the permission of Patiala-based White Eagle Laboratories, manufacturer of “Antizerm Hand Sanitiser” and “Isopropyl Alcohol 70% v/v Instant Hand Sanitiser”, has been cancelled. Both brands were found containing 65.89 per cent and 65.54 per cent methanol, respectively.

Similarly, products of two more manufacturers, one based in Amritsar and another Ludhiana, were also found containing high amount of methanol. Earlier, the FDA had issued show-cause notices to these manufacturers, but their replies were not found satisfactory, so the process to cancel their permission has been initiated.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide or alternative fuel source. According to the WHO, the chemical may pose threat to the life of various individuals falling in high-risk groups.

The FDA had tested 91 samples. Of these, 26 were found lower in contents than the permissible limits, 10 were found adulterated with methanol ranging from 7.05 per cent to over 95 per cent in place of isopropyl or ethanol. Following this, the FDA had asked the public not to use 10 brands of hand sanitiser.

KS Pannu, Commissioner, FDA, confirmed that the action had been initiated against the erring manufacturers.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide or alternative fuel source. According to the WHO, the chemical may pose threat to the life of various individuals falling in high-risk groups. The Tribune