Relaxed regulations and implemented derogations
US
The US Food and Drug Administration has said it is working to develop new processes that will allow the agency to return safely to onsite facility surveillance inspections. The administration halted "routine" onsite inspections in March and said it would determine the need for "mission critical" inspections on a case-by-case basis. In its latest update, the FDA said it will implement "alternative inspection tools" as it develops a new onsite inspection process.
US
The US EPA has announced an expedited review process for a wider group of products companies want added to the agency’s ‘List N: Disinfectants for use against Sars-CoV-2’. The policy, which expands on one previously announced, will now also apply to currently registered products that require a data review and applications for new disinfectant products.
Supply chain concerns
UK
The UK Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) is encouraging companies to sign up to an initiative that connects manufacturers and suppliers in the cleaning and cosmetic products supply chain, to bridge supply gaps in the production of hand sanitisers and soaps.
The CTPA launched the Emergency Response Exchange (CERE) project in early April. Companies that sign up to CERE give information on their manufacturing needs and offers of supply. The CTPA then matches companies based on the chemicals or other components they can provide each other, to produce products that are in high demand due to the pandemic.
So far, 80 companies have signed up and over 170 matches have been made between manufacturers and suppliers of critical products, ingredients and components, resulting in 185 products being produced, the trade body reports.
"The CTPA is now calling for more businesses and organisations to sign up to CERE to enable even more matches and products to be made," it said.
The CERE is based on a similar initiative recently launched by the Canadian association, Cosmetics Alliance Canada.
Australia
Australia’s association for manufacturers and suppliers of hygiene, personal care and speciality products, Accord, has set up a 'Connect system' to help match companies that urgently need alcohol-based hand sanitisers with product manufacturers.
The association is working with the federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Consumer Health Products Australia and the Australian Distillers Association.
A survey conducted by Accord found a shortage of "essential ingredients and materials" including ethanol, isopropanol, polymer gelling agents and packaging materials.
A spokesperson told Chemical Watch: "Supply chain disruptions of the magnitude caused by the pandemic do not get fixed overnight. The industry is still experiencing some difficulties obtaining key raw materials and packaging. It is hard to predict when the situation may normalise.
"There is always a concern [that supply will not match demand]. Efforts from Australia’s governments and across industries are seeing many businesses capable of making quality hand sanitiser products pivot into the market," he said.
"This will need to be matched for the making and supply of the raw materials and packaging, which are essential components of these products. A lot of chemical raw materials used by industry in Australia are imported and disrupted global supply chains are a potential headache for many Australian manufacturers," he added.
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