With the coronavirus cases increasing in India, the Central Government has now declared sanitizers, surgical masks and gloves as essential commodities till June 30, 2020 in an effort to boost supply and prevent hoarding of these items in its fight to check the spread of the deadly virus.
The Centre has also invoked Disaster Management Act to ensure price regulation and availability of surgical and protective masks, hand sanitizer and gloves.
In a notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, food and public distribution, the government has regulated the production, quality, distribution, logistics of masks (2ply and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitizers for COVID 19 management.
Both masks (2-ply and 3-ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitisers have been brought under Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which empowers the States to regulate the production, distribution, and prices of these items.
“Government has notified an order under the Essential Commodities Act to declare these items as essential commodities up to June 30, 2020, by amending the schedule of the Essential Commodities Act 1955,” the Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
“It will enhance the availability of both the items to the general people at reasonable prices or underP (maximum retail price),” the ministry said.
“The state governments can carry out operations against order speculators and those involved in black marketing and overpricing. Offenders may be punished with an imprisonment of 7 years or fine or both,” a Ministry official said told ET.
The government pointed out that the masks and hand sanitizers are either not available in the market or are available with great difficulty at a higher price.
“Masks with retail price of Rs 300 was being sold at Rs 1200 and hand sanitisers worth Rs 40 is being sold at Rs 100. The government has taken a strong decision to curb such unethical trade practices,” the official said.
The government has also issued an advisory under the Legal Metrology Act.