Indian Government Lifts Restrictions Over Export of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

As per the recent notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the Indian government has freed the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizers which it had prohibited on May 6, starting Monday. However, the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizers sold in containers with dispenser pumps is still restricted. On March 24, India had prohibited the exports of hand sanitizers, soaps, cleaning agents, disinfectants, and other medicaments to ensure ample stocks for its domestic consumption as the community transmission of the virus continued with anticipations to escalate further. It had also banned the export of ventilators, artificial respiratory apparatus, oxygen therapy apparatus, and other breathing appliance due to the rising coronavirus cases in the country. The eased restrictions are likely to trigger a huge spike in the annual sales of hand sanitizer manufacturers who are continuously ramping their production and eyeing on trade opportunities to deal with the soaring demand. The removal of restrictions would further mean increased consumption of ingredients used in alcohol-based sanitizer such as Isopropanol (IPA), Acetone, Ethanol etc.