FDA Targets Distillers That Produced Sanitizer During Pandemic

Denver, CO — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing fines to distilleries that produced hand sanitizer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the lockdown started back in March, stores everywhere were running out of a few essential items, including toilet paper, medical supplies, and hand sanitizer. The major producers in these markets
simply could not keep up with the skyrocketing demand. It would take months for these companies to catch up.

In response to the shortages, more than 800 alcohol distillers started to produce hand sanitizer. As hand sanitizer mostly consists of alcohol, distillers were able to make the transition rather easily.

Over the last nine months, distilleries have produced hundreds of thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer to help meet the health needs of the country. This is a fantastic example of the free market at work. Businesses saw a need and stepped up to address it.

The story should end there, but of course, the government felt compelled to come in and rain on the parade.

This week, the FDA notified these distillers that they are subject to a $14,060 fee. The fee comes as a result of the CARES Act; the stimulus package passed earlier this year.

The CARES Act made significant changes to the regulation of medical supplies. Included in these changes was the creation of a “Monograph Drug Facility Fee” (MDF fee). The $14,060 MDF fee is being applied to all sanitizer producers, including the more than 800 distillers who stepped up during the shortage.

What’s more, if distillers produce even one batch of sanitizer entering the New Year, they will face the same $14,060 bill this time next year. For these distilleries, the fee was levied without warning and with hardly a week’s notice.

Now hundreds of independent small businesses are faced with the hammer of big government. So much for free markets. So much for capitalism.
What message are we sending when we punish the very people who stepped up to help in a critical time of need?

This is a slap in the face for faithful Americans who made sacrifices to help their country. It is yet another burden placed on small businesses that are just trying to survive.