Health Canada has already recalled more than 120 hand sanitizers, which prompted the Order of Chemists to say that a review of the law could have avoided this mess.
To cope with the explosion in demand, Health Canada has temporarily relaxed its rules for the production of hand sanitizers.
The easing opened the door to companies unlicensed by Health Canada and to the use of non-pharmaceutical grade alcohol sources, in severe supply shortages.
Health Canada withdrew 121 hand sanitizers from the market between June 1 and November 27 due to the presence of unauthorized ingredients, for labeling or packaging issues. As of December 8, it had opened 741 investigations into potential non-compliance for the same reasons.
Since some products contained only 11 to 18% alcohol, the Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ) reacted by opening an investigation into the production of hydroalcoholic gels, for which a progress report should be known in February. .
Concerns
“The number of recalls concern us for the protection of the public. We think we have taken all the necessary measures, that we will not transmit the disease, but we have a false sense of security while using the product. It challenges us,” announced to the media OCQ president Michel Alsayegh.
According to Alsayegh, even if a disinfectant has a sufficient alcohol content of 60 to 70%, it is not a guarantee of quality. “We have to make sure that there is no addition of a product that is harmful to health or that interacts with another. We are talking about pure and simple chemistry here. The type of plastic in the container should be suitable for what you put in it, and not look like a water bottle. There have been cases of poisoning.
Law update
Since the start of the investigation, Mr. Alsayegh indicates that the order has been contacted by both employees concerned to see how production was organized in their factory and by manufacturers who have requested advice. “There is a way to handle chemicals. It can be dangerous, especially in terms of flammability and fumes. “
The president of the OCQ is pleading for an update of the law on chemists, which dates from 1964.
” We are not asking for a chemist behind each bottle. But if in Quebec, Health Canada had made sure to give licenses to companies supervised by chemists, giving their seal of approval and being accountable, we would have ensured that the products leaving the factories were flawless. There would have been no recalls.
