Food and Drug Administration of Maharashtra on Friday raided a factory alleged of making fake hand sanitisers in Vakola area of Mumbai. As per reports, the ‘sanitizers’ didn’t have proper anti-bacterial particles which make the solution disinfectant. A huge cache has been recovered and authorities are reportedly taking action against them. The factory had reportedly started operations 8 days back and had neither licence nor batch number.
These were reportedly sold for Rs 105 to Rs 180 a piece. “Due to coronavirus scare, people are scared and purchasing sanitizers in panic. Some anti-social elements are engaged in making fake products,” said Joint Commissioner of FDA Maharashtra Dr. Gahane.
In another raid, a factory in Gurugram which was manufacturing spirit-based hand sanitizers was also found the culprit of making fake sanitisers on Wednesday. The team of officers from the FDA, Haryana recovered 5000 bottles of sanitizer filled with the brand name of Viro-rub along with a large number of empty bottles and labels. Around 1,000 liters of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was also seized from the manufacturing unit.
Ashok Meena, Commissioner of FDA Haryana said that the unit which was functioning in the name of Hi-Tech international in the Plot 18, Sector-6 Manesar, did not have any license under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. This manufacturing unit had also begun operations only ten days back in which they had sold as many as 2,500 bottles before the authorities raided the unit.
Usage of hand sanitiser is one of the precautionary measures the government as well as WHO have recommended to protect oneself against getting infected with coronavirus.