Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority Issues Warning About Methanol Based Hand Sanitizer

• Written by Germaine UMWIZERWA Mon, 20 Jul 20 PM

After some parts of Rwanda have been exposed to the effects of taking methanol based products as it has been reported by different Rwandan media company. For example, K’IBAMBA produced by BIO-HAP LTD that was recently removed from Rwandan market due to high methanol content and it has been found that some of the instant Hand Sanitizer to fight against Covid-19 virus are methanol based. And banned from the market. Rwanda food and drugs authority (Rwanda FDA) circulates a warning letter to traders, alcohol supplies, industries, and alcohol users such as barbers and Rwandans in general forbidding the use of methanol based products. According to Rwanda FDA, Methanol does not kill virus or bacteria and is a toxic alcohol that can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin, destroys stomach and other parts of the body as well as causing the blindness or death when swallowed. It also damages the respiratory track when inhalated. Furthermore, it can cause fire as it has the ability to ignite when it doesn’t stored properly.

Rwanda FDA advises the people to buy alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs contain either ethanol or isopropanol as active ingredients at an authorized pharmacy. Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient in formulation of both hand sanitizer and beverages. Before buying hand sanitizer, People are advised to check if the labels of the product indicates the following requirements

·   Ethanol content of 70-80% or isopropyl alcohol 75% and other ingredient like hydrogen peroxide and glycerin

·         batch number,

·         Manufacturing and Expiration date,

·         Name of manufacturer,

Click here to read the warning letter issues by Rwanda FDA about Methanol based hand sanitizer