DTI lifts volume limits on sanitizers, masks

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has lifted the quantity limit imposed over alcohol, sanitizers, disinfecting liquids and N95 and N88 face masks.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 20-54 on Oct. 15, 2020, lifting the quantity limits for the remaining products covered by previous MC No. 20-36 Series of 2020, saying that the production of these items has become stable.

The manufacturers and retailers of disinfecting alcohol, hand sanitizers, disinfecting liquids and face masks (N95 and N88) have assured the DTI that their supply is now more than sufficient to cover consumer demand during the period of the Covid-19 public health emergency. This has also been confirmed through DTI’s regular monitoring activities.

With this, DTI said the recurrence of hoarding by businesses and panic buying by consumers are now remote.

“There is a need to invigorate and restore economic activities and allow businesses a fair return in their investments, while balancing the health of the people,” the agency said.

In the past months, hoarding and panic buying were observed among consumers.

Masks were sold at higher prices because of the high demand. Supermarkets and grocery stores also experienced a shortage of supply for alcohol and sanitizers.

These prompted the DTI to impose volume limits on some selected essential goods to ensure price stability and market flow.

The pandemic has also forced some companies to shift operations from producing beverages to ethyl alcohol. Garments companies also ventured into producing personal protective equipment like masks. (JOB)