Health Ministry exempt hand sanitizers from requirement of sale licence under the provisions of Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Several representations requesting to exempt hand sanitizers from the requirement of sale licence under the provisions of Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for stocking or sale of the drug have been received.
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 public interest. The Central Government considers it necessary that hand sanitizers are required to be made widely available to the public at large.
Therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by section 26B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), the Central Government has directed that the drug, namely, hand sanitizer shall be exempted from the requirement of sale licence for its stocking or sale under the provisions of Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
