The current coronavirus pandemic and the panic shopping that prevailed has led to a global shortage of hand sanitiser. However, the UK Government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have relaxed rules over the manufacture of hand sanitisers to help increase production, reports The Chemical Engineer.
HSE is now allowing manufacturers to produce hand sanitisers that contain isopropanol without first obtaining the required product authorisation, as long as the product meets specifications provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO has published guidance on how to formulate sanitiser, the equipment needed, steps to take to produce it and the safety implications, which can be found here: WHO Guide to Local Production.
Manufacturers that wish to place hand sanitiser products on the market that meet the required specifications need to first contact HSE, which is aiming to respond and approve requests as quickly as possible.
Richard Daniels, HSE’s Chemicals Regulation Director, said: “Amid this national effort, we are working closely with other Government agencies, manufacturers and their trade associations to help remove obstacles to the manufacture and supply of safe and effective biocidal hand sanitiser products and reduce supply chain issues.
“While this action will enable manufacturers to place hand sanitiser products on the UK market quickly, we still expect them to meet their responsibilities to adhere to the correct standards which protect the people and the environment from potentially harmful chemical effects.”
The government’s custom’s authority (HMRC) has taken measures to assist in the manufacture of sanitiser by the removal of limits on denatured alcohol and duty-free spirits that can be used in the production of hand sanitiser.
If you’re looking for UK-based chemical manufacturers, then get in touch today.