Face Masks and Hand Sanitisers Removed from List of Essential Items, Centre Says Enough Supply

Face masks and hand sanitisers are no more essential products as their supply is sufficient in the country and, therefore, are now kept out of the purview of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Consumer Affairs Secretary Leena Nandan said on Tuesday.

On March 13, the Union consumer affairs ministry had declared face masks and hand sanitisers as essential commodities for 100 days to boost supply and prevent hoarding of these items in its fight to check the spread of coronavirus.

"These two items were pronounced as fundamental things till June 30. We are not expanding



further as there is sufficient flexibly in the nation," said Nandan. 

A choice in such manner was taken after conference with the state governments, she said. 

"We have checked with all states and got data from them that there is adequate flexibly of these two things. There is no gracefully concern," she included.

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