FDA warns of unlicensed hand sanitizers

MANILA, Philippines — With many unscrupulous individuals now making money from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration is urging the public to buy only hand sanitizers, topical antiseptics and topical antibacterial products that are licensed by the FDA.

In an advisory, FDA director general Eric Domingo said people, for safety purposes, should not buy or use products that are not registered with the agency.

“The public is hereby enjoined to be vigilant in the purchase and use of these types of products in light of the proliferation of unregistered/unnotified products that are offered for sale in the market especially during this time when a state of calamity has been declared due to the COVID-19 threat in the country,” he noted.

He also advised the public to buy only FDA-registered products from “reputable establishments.”

The agency asked retailers, hospitals and other government offices and units to make sure they get these products from FDA-licensed manufacturers and distributors.

“Consumers are urged to check the product labels for relevant information including, but not limited to, country of manufacture, name and address of company placing the product in the market, manufacturing or expiry date and instruction for use,” Domingo said.

The public, he added, can check the FDA website at www.fda.gov.ph for the authorization status of establishments and health products.