Kochi: Drugs control offices in the state witnessed huge rush after the drugs controller issued an order mandating license for selling hand sanitizers. The license is mandatory for all shops except medical stores.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the demand for hand sanitizers increased. Hence, it is available widely from small shops to supermarkets. Amidst this, the drugs controller issued an order making license mandatory for shops to sell this product.

Drugs control department has made 20-A license mandatory for all shops except medical stores to sell hand sanitizers. A fee of Rs 500 is also charged from the shop owner for the license.

As the authority restricted the hand sanitizer sale in shops without a license, shopkeepers rushed to the offices ignoring the norms on social distancing.

The license will be issued only after the regional drugs inspector examines the basic facilities to store sanitizer at each shop. But the vendors expressed protest over the delay in the procedures.

Drugs controller KJ John informed that there will be no scarcity of sanitizer in the market. 

“Officials are directed to issue the license as soon as possible after considering the applications. License is being issued within four to five days,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti will forward a memorandum to Chief Minister seeking his intervention in the matter.

“Small scale vendors are largely affected with the order mandating license for hand sanitizer sale. The authority should have given a time limit before implementing the order,” said Raju Apsara, general secretary of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi.