Industry steps up to help fight COVID-19

According to the AMA, the South African aerosol industry put up its hand immediately as the State President, Minister of Health and the Minister of Trade and Industry began looking for more suppliers of hand sanitisers, ventilators, disinfectants, alcohol, gas and other essential items needed in the fight against COVID-19.

Within 24 hours, 30 companies had responded by close of business on 26 March and went onto register for CIPC certificates in order to continue production and ensure safe passage for their employees.

Even non-members of the Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (AMA) joined hands in the industry’s effort and new players identified themselves too.

Nick Tselentis, executive director of the AMA, says much good can and will come out of this.

“South Africans are inventive, hardworking and concerned, but this is the bottom of the bottom. We need to manufacture, trade and sell our incredible services and expertise, and get back on track,” he comments.

Regulatory status update

The National Regulator for Compulsory Specification (NRCS), South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, South Africa Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the Department of Trade and Industry jointly issued a notification to assist manufacturers during the COVID-19 crisis regarding applicable standards and conformity assessments. The notification covers hand rubs, soaps and sanitisers (with or without alcohol).

According to information included in the AMA’s recent bulletin, sanitising products may fall into various regulatory groups depending on the:

• application surface (human skin or inanimate surface)

• environment the sanitiser is used in (place of use)

• intended use and function

• composition.

Hand sanitisers are generally regarded as rub or leave on products primarily used to sanitise the skin, when soap and water are not available. They are also leave-on products, meaning they are not rinsed off with water.

These products are controlled under the ambit of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 page 2 (Act 54 of 1972) (FCD Act) and fall within the mandate of the Directorate: Environmental Health within the Department of Health (DOH). They must comply with the South African National Standard (SANS) 490:2013 ‘disinfectant alcohol-based handrub’, as well as the Legal Metrology Act, 2014 (Act 09 of 2014), in terms of packaging and labelling and any compulsory standards issued by the NRCS.

Disinfectants and germicides used on inanimate surfaces in low-risk areas within the home, public venues (schools and restaurants), health institutions, health professional consulting rooms and clinics are controlled under the ambit of the FCD Act and fall within the mandate of the Directorate: Environmental Health within the DOH. These products must comply with the requirements of the ‘compulsory specification for chemical disinfectants VC8054’ as set out by the NRCS, the Legal Metrology Act, 2014 (Act 09 of 2014) as well as all relevant SANS standards.

Retail statistics: In March, household cleaning and hygiene and personal care categories showed strong growth. In April, hand sanitisers in all forms took off, while a settling-down period has been evident since early May. Source: AMA

Clarification on who will register low-risk alcohol-based sanitisers and the standards that will be applied are currently pending. These developments are unfolding with amendments to SANS 490:2013 which are about to surface. •