Pakistan's Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has introduced a new standard for hand sanitisers, which became effective on 5 May.
The standard contains ingredient lists for alcohol-derived liquid, gel and spray-based sanitisers, based on WHO-recommended formulations.
Manufacturers should ensure their products follow the requirements for efficacy, ethanol content and pH, according to test methods outlined in the standard’s annexes. Rules for the packaging, labelling and marketing of products must also be followed. Companies should include information including instructions for use in either English, Kiswahili or French and appropriate cautionary warnings.
The move follows the release of a report on 3 April from the PSQCA, whose inspectors found that 23 of 60 hand sanitiser products on the market failed to meet WHO guidelines for alcohol content and/or pH.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) also issued temporary rules for hand sanitisers on 6 April, but these are set to expire on 2 July.
Drap – which regulates medical devices and cosmetics – says companies must:
- obtain a drug manufacturing licence or enlistment certificate before marketing the product;
- submit an application to Drap’s health and over-the-counter division for provisional permission for manufacture; and
- comply with the standard for hand sanitisers that outlines the ingredients that can be used.
The PSQCA sets standards for a range of consumer products including toothpaste and soap. Chemical Watch was unable to confirm if the new standard will supersede the Drap notification before it expires on 2 July.
The PSQCA notified the WTO of the standard on 12 May.