Sanitizers and Mask as Essential Commodities

So, first of all, we need to know essential commodities. Any commodity that the government deems important is an essential commodity. The Indian Parliament enacted the ECA to assure the delivery of specific commodities or items whose supply, if disrupted by hoarding or black marketing, would harm people’s daily lives. So now, what is sanitiser and what are masks? Hand sanitiser, also known as hand antiseptic, hand rub, or hand rub, is a disinfectant applied to the hands to kill common germs. Hand sanitisers are typically foam, gel, or liquid in nature. A mask is a piece of clothing often worn on the face for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment. Now, let’s get detailed information on why sanitiser and masks are essential commodities.

What are Essential Commodities? 

Any commodity that the government deems important is an essential commodity. The Indian Parliament enacted the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) to assure the delivery of specific commodities or items whose supply, if disrupted by hoarding or black marketing, would harm people’s daily lives. This includes food, medications, and fuel (petroleum goods), among other things. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 amended this Act as part of India’s farm reforms in 2020. The ECA was adopted in 1955. The government has since used it to regulate the production, supply, and distribution of a wide range of goods that it deems “important” to make them available to consumers at reasonable costs. In addition, the government has the authority to set the minimum support price (MSP) of any packaged product it designates to be an “essential commodity.” Drugs, fertilisers, pulses, edible oils, and petroleum and petroleum products are covered by the Act. When additional commodities are needed, the Centre can add them to the list and remove them when the situation improves. If the Centre determines that a product is in low supply and its price rises, it might impose stock-holding restrictions for a set length of time. The states respond to this notification by establishing restrictions and taking actions to guarantee that they are met. Wholesalers, merchants, and even importers that trade or deal in the item are prohibited from hoarding more than a specific amount.

Sanitiser and Masks as Essential Commodities

The Centre issued an order on March 13 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, declaring 2 plies and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks, and hand sanitisers to be essential commodities until June 30, 2020. It has also issued a Legal Metrology Act advisory to ensure that certain items are not sold for more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

 In light of the ongoing COVID-19 (CoronaVirus) outbreak and concerns about logistics for COVID-19 management, particularly in the last few weeks, and the fact that masks (2 plies and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitisers have been noted to be either unavailable or only available with great difficulty at exorbitant prices, the government has notified an Order under the Essential Commodities Act declaring these items as essential. Under the Legal Metrology Act, it has also issued advice. After conversations with manufacturers, states can ask them to increase their production capacity of these commodities to smooth the supply chain. In contrast, states can ensure the sale of both items at MRP under the E.C. Act. On these two matters, the States may now publish the Central order in their official Gazettes, issue their orders under the E.C. Act to that effect, and take appropriate action based on the situation in their States. Powers of the Central Government were already assigned to the States by orders under the E.C. Act from 1972 to 1978. As a result, under the E.C. Act and the PBMMSEC Act, States/U.T.s may take action against violators. Under the E.C. An offender can be sentenced to up to 7 years in jail, a fine, or both, and under the PBMMSEC Act, he can be imprisoned for up to 6 months. The decision would allow the government and states/U.T.s to regulate the production, quality, distribution, and other aspects of masks (2 plies and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitisers, as well as carry out operations against order speculators and others involved in overpricing, black marketing, and other practises. It will increase the availability of both items to the general public at acceptable prices or below the manufacturer’s recommended retail price. It is also recommended that states publicise state helplines for customers of the above two commodities to submit concerns.

Conclusion 

We studied the above article about sanitisers and Also about masks. As we know, Sanitisers and masks are now recognised as essential commodities. The Centre issued an order on March 13 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, declaring 2 plies and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks, and hand sanitisers to be essential commodities until June 30, 2020. It has also issued a Legal Metrology Act advisory to ensure that certain items are not sold for more than the MRP. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and concerns about logistics for COVID-19 management, particularly in the last few weeks, and the fact that masks and hand sanitisers have been noted to be either unavailable or only available with great difficulty at exorbitant prices, the government has notified an Order under the Essential Commodities Act.