The world has been shaken by coronavirus pandemic. As a consequence, masks and cleansing or hydro-alcoholic gels are highly demanded.
In our last article we spoke about How to make you own homemade hydro-alcoholic gel?. Today we bring you more information about the conformity of such products.
Lately, specialists have been questioning the conformity of cleaning and hydro-alcoholic gels to sanitary norms. It is highly recommended to wash your hands instead of using hydro alcoholic gel. However, we are often in a position and place where there is no access to soap and water. so, we are obliged in a way to use cleansing gels.
Consequently, the demand increased in the market and production is increasing by its turn. We, often, go to the pharmacist to buy the cleansing gel solution without really noticing if it is in conformity with sanitary recommendations.
In Canada, for instance, new rules are in place to make antiseptic cleansers conform. The federal agency published the necessary conditions to obtain the authorization of marketing such products. It is mandatory to have the natural product number on the product’s label.
NPN as an indicator of conformity
Obtaining an NPN and licence to produce these products is being facilitated and accelerated to respond to the raising demand. Indeed, Alain Ménard, who is the owner of the company, The Green Beaver, is surprised to receive an NPN number under 48 hours. He stated in, La Presse, that: ” the process is accelerated, and norms lightened, to my greatest surprise.”
He states that most of people are not aware of the existence of an NPN number. Thus, he is worried that other companies would take advantage of such situations to produce non conform gels. So, people would not be really protected.
Christiane Gallegos, the owner of Brasqué Beauté, specializing in natural cosmetic products, stated that,
the company immediately joined the market to help tight the gap of market demand to pass through this delicate period.
In March, the company launched a “hand purifier” containing 60% isoprobanol alcohol on its website, but without first obtaining its NPN. The company quickly corrected this by withdrawing its product from the market and taking the necessary steps with Health Canada, which recently granted it an NPN.
It felt like it was impossible for companies our size, to get our NPN, but it was much easier than we imagined. “We are working on a new label that will follow Health Canada’s guidelines, ”explained Ms. Gallegos.
“It is very venerable that a company wants to collaborate, but it requires minimal supervision to ensure that everything is done according to the rules of the art, that the disinfectant is not irritating to the skin, that it there are no contaminants. We play with chemicals that we mix, alcohol, peroxide, glycerin, which can degrade, that we have to stabilize … If the final percentage of alcohol is below the requested threshold, the product will be of no use !”. He states further that their aim is to keep people safe b providing a gel which eliminates the virus from the hands.
Continue to the next page to read all about cleaning hand gel comply to sanitary norms! and check if you hydro-alcoholic gel is conform or not!
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The use of ethanol, is it harmful?
The use of so-called “technical” quality ethanol in hand sanitizers also raises questions and concerns. In fact, due to shortages of pharmaceutical-grade (so-called USP) or food-grade ethanol, Health Canada temporarily authorized the use of technical ethanol on April 15 for a period extending up to as of June 30, 2020. This type of ethanol has more impurities, the most worrying of which is acetaldehyde, which is a potentially carcinogenic compound, especially when inhaled.
What ingredients are allowed to make the cleansing gels conform?
You need first to verify that the gel contains enough alcohol. 60% to 80% ethanol and 60 to 75% of isopropanol. Read the product’s label to verify this information.
You may get lost in all these chemical jargon, but it is easy to have a list of components and verify them on the product’s label. For example, the allowed components are:
Hydrogen paroxide, to eliminate contaminating spored, Glycerin which serves as a moisturizer, distilled or boiled water. Other additives like perfume are not recommended but authorized.Hydrogen paroxide, to eliminate contaminating spored, Glycerin which serves as a moisturizer, distilled or boiled water. Other additives like perfume are not recommended but authorized.
The warnings you must find on the labels
Adult use only, contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women, not use on damaged skin, do not inhale.
Make sure to favorize soap and water over cleansing gels.