Chemists warned over substandard sanitisers flooding markets

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department has warned chemists and druggists to be wary of being party to cheap and fake sanitisers making their way to the market.

With several tests by Drug Controller General of India revealing that a large number of hand sanitisers are of substandard quality that fails to meet the standards required to prevent one from viral infections, drug controller authorities have started testing sanitisers available in the market. They have also asked the druggists to ensure purchase only on the bill from authorised people, as a large number of sanitisers being sold contains methanol instead of ethyl alcohol. The druggists and chemists across the State have been told to ensure that the hand sanitisers are of required quality and can protect one from coronavirus.

“Several samples of hand sanitisers contained methanol and isopropyl alcohol instead of ethyl alcohol. Some do not have the required 70-80 per cent of alcohol content as stated in the guidelines. Methanol can be toxic as an ingredient in a hand sanitiser. So, we have been asked to ensure that only quality products are being bought from authorised manufacturers,” said Dr S Ramachandran, president, Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association.

Tamil Nadu Drug Controller K Sivabalan said the samples of substandard quality of hand sanitisers in the market are being checked. “After complaints were raised, the police and officials from the drug control department are tracking down the manufacturing units,” he said.