During the COVID-19 pandemic, most people are practising good hand hygiene by regular washing with soap and water and supplementing it with the use of hand sanitisers.
Hand sanitisers are in short supply and several businesses, such as chemical formulators or distillers, are assisting with the increase in demand by manufacturing sanitiser products.
On 28 March 2020, the Therapeutic Goods Administration issued a determination that hand sanitisers ma ufactured in accordance with specified formulations were exempt from regulation if they contain particular ingredients and comply with advertising and labelling conditions.
The formulation specifies the use of either 80 per cent (v/v) ethyl alcohol (ethanol) or 75 per cent (v/v) is propyl alcohol (isopropanol), both of which are dangerous goods.
This formulation, as well as other sanitiser formulations, are currently being manufactured within Western Australia by a variety of businesses and individuals, many of whom have limited or no experience in using these chemicals.