Jalandhar firm loses licence over hazardous sanitiser

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7

In an order issued on Monday, Dr Rakesh Sharma, Director, Ayurveda, cancelled the licence of a Jalandhar-based hand sanitiser manufacturing company till further orders. Besides sealing their stock, the authorities have recalled their product supplied to market. “Any sanitiser containing methanol is a serious issue and we will take strict action,” said Dr Sharma.

Lethal chemical

• The sanitiser made by the Jalandhar-based company was found to be containing over 95 per cent methanol alcohol
• The firm has used 6,000 litres of chemicals in the last three months

The sanitiser made by the Jalandhar-based company was found to be containing over 95 per cent methanol alcohol. The firm had used 6,000 litres of chemicals in the last three months.

The amount of chemical used was enough to manufacture over 75,000 (100 ml) bottles of sanitiser. The manufacturer, Galiberry Formulations, was making hand sanitiser for various brands.

According to record of the Directorate of Ayurveda, the company was already making ayurvedic medicines and was granted another licence to manufacture hand sanitiser in March.

On the label of the sanitiser bottle, the manufacturer had claimed that it contained extracts of medicinal plants. However, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested the samples of various brands, it was found that the one made by Galiberry Formulations contained more than 95 per cent methanol alcohol.

Joginder Pal, Drug Inspector (Ayurveda), Jalandhar, said they had collected samples of other batches and sent them for testing to a government lab in Patiala. He said the manufacturer had been served a show-cause notice.

However, Jaspreet Singh, owner of the company, said they manufactured only isopropyl-based hand sanitiser. “We have valid bill of the purchase of isopropyl and each batch of our sanitiser was tested before it was sent to market. We have provided entire record to the authorities,” he said.

The FDA had found that hand sanitisers of four manufacturers contained high amount (35 to 95 per cent) of methanol alcohol. Of these, three were based in HP and one in Jalandhar.