KATHMANDU, Oct 10: The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) in its fresh move has banned the sale and distribution of two more sanitizers brands produced in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, after the products were found to contain toxic alcohol ‘methanol.’
Issuing a public notice on Saturday, the regulator has restricted Aerosoft Intent Hand Sanitizer produced by Susanka Industries Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu, and Alexophen-120 (Fexofenadine Hydrochloride Tablets USP) produced by CTL Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, Bhaktapur. The DDA has asked these companies to recall their low quality products from the market.
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The DDA has barred the selling of the ‘low-standard’ sanitizers as they do not meet the 'Instant Hand Sanitizer (Alcohol Base) Standard 2020,' set by the regulator. The inhalation of this toxic chemical can result in a number of health problems in the consumers including severe headache, vision problems, nausea, fluctuation in the rate of heartbeat and even unconsciousness.
With the soaring demand for hand sanitizers along with the spiking cases of the coronavirus infection, the market is flooded with substandard sanitizers. A study carried out by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) last month also showed that around 45 percent of hand sanitizers being sold in the local market are unfit for use.
Earlier too, the regulator had banned nine sanitizer brands on the same charge. Opacel Non Washing Antibacterial Solution from a Gwangju-based Chinese company, Pamacare Hand Sanitizer from RL Corp, India, Sasa Hand Sanitizer from Sampada Healthcare, Lalitpur, and Unicare Hand Sanitizer from Shreenath Herbal, Kathmandu, have been declared unfit for use.
Similarly, the regulator had also banned Instant Hand Sanitizer of Nepal Kayakalpa Udhyog and the products of Hygiene Soap and Chemical Pvt Ltd, Adhar Chemicals and Food Industry Pvt Ltd, Search Chem Cum Herbal Products and Suryamukhi Health.
