Stay at home. Avoid crowded places. Wash your hands. Wear your masks. Sanitize. Viva! These are common statements in Kenya as we strive to fight the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic that is spreading across the world like wildfire.
Almost every Kenyan, currently, especially those in urban areas, has a sanitizer. There are so many sanitizers on the market; some real and some fake. Do you know that that sanitizer you might be using and proudly walking around with it might be fake?
Well, the Kenya Bureau of Standards has sounded an alarm. The body has released a list of 40 sanitizers that are substandard; meaning they are not delivering the results you need to protect yourself against Covid-19. It is like you are just applying the jelly.
Following market surveillance activities, KEBS wishes to communicate to the public the list of hand sanitizers that have been ascertained as not meeting the requirements of KS EAS 789; Kenya Standard specification for Instant Hand Sanitizers.
This standard has set the minimum requirement of the alcohol content at 60%v/v among other parameters that must be complied with before the products are certified and issued with the mandatory standardization mark permits and offered for sale. Said KEBS.
Here is the list:
- Scental
- Super-guard
- Zoe
- Safi
- Velvex
- MCL
- Goodlife
- Spot X
- Max
- Duogel
- Ellena
- Allison’s
- Banlo
- Rak
- Lovillea
- Latest
- Eripride
- Clean Hand
- Disanita
- Skin Mate
- Palm Maximum
- Quick Hand
- Ruysun Advance
- Vesrose
- Lili
- O-Rie
- Vitaclean
- Antiseptic Vibes
- Palvene
- Super
Sanitizers contain antiseptic properties or agents that when used disinfect the hands and can be used on their own when soap and water are not available. They protect users by eliminating or reducing viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing pathogens.
READ: How to Identify Fake Hand Sanitizers and Masks – KEBS
Therefore, the use of non-compliant sanitizers would dupe Kenyans into a false sense of security that they have properly sanitized thereby undermining the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Consequently, the manufacturers of the said products are instructed to discontinue manufacturing or offering for sale the affected sanitizers.
The manufacturers are required to recall all the substandard sanitizers from the market and institute corrective actions whose effectiveness shall be confirmed by KEBS before the suspension of permits is lifted.
Manufacturers are advised to strictly adhere to marking and labeling requirements as per the relevant Standard. In addition, manufacturers shall state the composition of the sanitizers. Said KEBS.
READ: Anti-Counterfeit Authority Warns Kenyans Against Counterfeit Sanitizers