Change In FDA Standards Could Lead To Increased Hand Sanitizer Production

The Food and Drug Administration has relaxed regulations on the types of alcohol that can be used to make hand sanitizer during the shortage caused by the Covid-19  pandemic. That could potentially mean that ethanol producers would be able to provide alcohol for the making of sanitizer. The FDA has stringent production standards and it had prohibited many ethanol plants from using their alcohol which didn’t meet high quality specifications for usage.  Under the latest FDA guidelines announced Friday, ethanol made at plants that produce fuel ethanol can be used if it contains no additional additives or chemicals. The plants would also have to ensure water purity and proper sanitation of equipment. The FDA said it will consider each plant on an individual basis and grant approval only if a plant meets quality control specifications.