COVID-19: Liquor distilleries in Telangana allowed to produce hand sanitiser for a month

Hyderabad: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, liquor distilleries are pitching in to produce hand sanitiser. In a new circular released by Telangana's Drug Control Administration, it said all licensed distilleries in the state are permitted to produce alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

The decision was taken due to the rising demand for hand sanitiser, as well as overpricing and hoarding of such essential commodities. Taking a cue from this, Bacardi India has started producing sanitiser at its co-packing facility in Telangana. The company aims to produce 70,000 liters of hand sanitiser, which it plans to distribute to district government hospitals.

However, the drug control body has maintained that this permission has been granted on a temporary basis for a period of up to 30 days.

Distilleries have been directed to prepare hand sanitiser as per the formulations recommended by the WHO, that is 96 per cent (8333 ml) ethanol, three per cent (417 ml) hydrogen peroxide, 98 per cent (145 ml) glycerol, and sterile/distilled water to make up 10,000 ml.

Telangana has 17 distilleries registered under the Excise department. Speaking to NewsMeter, an official associated with the department said several distilleries have started producing hand sanitiser.

Apart from this, distilleries are required to submit an application in the statutory form 24 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, along with other required documents. Only those distilleries which are authorised by the Excise department will be allowed to produce sanitiser. The distilleries have also been asked not to supply the finished products at a price more than the price fixed by the Central or the state governments.