Face masks, hand sanitisers no more essential items: Centre

Face masks and hand sanitisers are more essential products as ir supply is sufficient in country and, refore, are w kept out of purview of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Consumer Affairs Secretary Leena Nandan said on Tuesday. On March 13, Union consumer affairs ministry h declared face masks and hand sanitisers as essential commodities for 100 days to boost supply and prevent hoarding of se items in its fight to check spre of coronavirus.

"se two products were declared as essential items till June 30. We are t extending furr as re is eugh supply in country," Nandan told PTI.

RE: COVID-19 tests in India crosses 1 crore mark as testing lab network expands

A decision in this regard was taken after consultation with state governments, she said.

"We have checked with all states and got information from m that re is sufficient supply of se two items. re is supply concern," she ded.

Masks (2-ply and 3-ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitisers were brought under Essential Commodities Act, empowering states to regulate production, distribution and prices of se items and also crackdown on hoarding and black-marketing.

RE: Coronavirus Live Updates: India's tally crosses 7 lakh-mark with 22,252 fresh cases