Topline
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will impose new guidelines in 2022 to improve the hand sanitizer industry in America. This was after a pandemic that saw large-scale producers like Coca-Cola and Tito's Vodka rush to produce the product.
Sara Cartelli filled the bottles with a Hand Sanitizer Mix at Claremont Distillery, March 20,... [+] 2020 Fairfield, New Jersey. Getty Images
The Key Facts
The FDA temporarily relaxed its policies during the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic in March 2020 to allow more companies alcohol-based hand sanitizers and related ingredients. This was due to the public health emergency and shortage. The FDA announced Tuesday that hand sanitizer is no longer difficult to obtain from traditional suppliers. It will end the year's relaxed guidelines. If they adhere to the FDA's regulations, companies that produced hand sanitizer in the pandemic period will be allowed to continue production in 2022. The FDA stated that hand sanitizers manufactured under the more relaxed guidelines prior to December 31, 2021 must not be sold to wholesalers and retailers after March 31, 2022.
Important Background
The pandemic saw a surge in hand sanitizer sales, with the product's sales increasing by 73% from March 2020 to fill empty shelves in stores across the country. In response to the surge in demand, brands like Titos Vodka and Coca-Cola decided to make hand sanitizer. Amazon and other online retailers took action to stop price gouging. Hand sanitizer bottles were being resold for up to $150 on platforms. The agency recalled dozens of hand sanitizers after it was discovered that they had methanol contamination. This can lead to blindness, neurological damage, and even death.
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