Not-for-human-use sterilizers and sanitizers sold as hand sanitizers

- Buy hand sanitizers marked as quasi-drugs and use sterilizers and sanitizers for designated purposes -

Personal hygiene is key to preventing COVID-19 infections, meaning spikes in demands for hand sanitizers. Consumers are advised to pay particular attention to cases where sanitizers and sterilizers not for human use are marked and sold as hand sanitizers.

The Korea Consumer Agency (President Lee Hee Sook) monitored the effectiveness of hand sanitizers sold online. Finding part of ‘disinfectants and sterilizers for instruments’ and ‘disinfectants (biocides)’ were marked as hand sanitizers suitable for human use*, the agency requested improvement measures.

* Misleading marks as hand sanitizers: 5 products classified as disinfectants and sterilizers for instruments (48 cases) and 6 products classified as biocides (429 cases).