New Delhi, March 26The Ministry of Consumer Affairs on Thursday said over 45 distilleries and 564 other manufacturers have been granted permission to produce hand-sanitizers. Additionally more than 55 distilleries are expected to be granted permission in the next 1-2 days to make hand sanitizers to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, the Ministry said.
It also said most of the players have commenced production and others are likely to start production in a week’s time and this will lead to sufficient supply of hand-sanitizers to consumers and hospitals.
“Demand for sanitizers is increasing day by day and in order to maintain demand and supply balance, State government authorities, including Excise Commissioners, Cane Commissioners, Drug Controllers as well as District Collectors of various States, have been advised to remove any bottlenecks in supply of ethanol/ENA to manufacturers of hand sanitisers and to give permissions /licences to the applicants, including distilleries, who intend to manufacture hand sanitizers,” the Ministry said in a statement.
In order to ensure that hand-sanitizers are made available to the general public and hospitals at a reasonable price, the Government has also fixed the Maximum Retail Price for it. The retail price of hand-sanitizers shall not be more than ₹100 per bottle of 200 ml; the price of other quantities of hand-sanitizers shall be fixed in the proportion to these, the official statement added.