Govt notifies hand sanitisers, masks, gloves as essential commodities

The
government on Friday declared face masks and hand sanitisers as essential
commodities for the next 100 days as it stepped up efforts to boost supply and
prevent hoarding of these items in its fight to check spread of the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Centre
has also invoked Disaster Management Act to ensure price regulation and
availability of surgical and protective masks, hand sanitisers and gloves.

Both masks
(2-ply and 3-ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitisers have been
brought under Essential Commodities Act, 1955, empowering states to regulate
production, distribution and prices of these items and also crack down on
hoarding and black marketing.

The decision
would empower the government and states/UTs to regulate production, quality and
distribution of masks and hand sanitisers for smooth sale and availability of
these items. It also empowers to carry out operations against speculators and
those involved in over-pricing and black marketing.

.

The
government pointed out that masks and hand sanitisers are either not available
in the market or are available with great difficulty at exorbitant prices, in
view of the ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The
government has also issued an advisory under the Legal Metrology Act.

Under the
Essential Commodities Act, state governments can ask manufacturers to enhance
their production capacity of these items for augmenting supply, while states
can ensure sale of both the items under the Legal Metrology Act.

States can
now notify the Central order in their official gazettes and also issue their
own orders under the Essential Commodities Act depending on the situation, the
ministry said.

They may
take action against offenders under the Essential Commodities Act and PBMMSEC
Act (Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential
Commodities Act), 1980.

Meanwhile,
the Centre has also invoked Disaster Management Act to ensure price regulation
and availability of surgical and protective masks, hand sanitisers and gloves.

The
Essential Commodities Act was passed to ensure the delivery of certain
commodities or products, the supply of which, if obstructed owing to hoarding
or black marketing, would affect the normal life of people. This includes
foodstuffs, drugs and fuels (petroleum products).

The act
itself does not lay out rules and regulations but allows the states to issue
control orders related to dealer licensing, regulate stock limits and restrict
movement of goods and requirements of compulsory purchases under a levy system.