Masks, sanitisers can be sold at fair price shops: Delhi food minister

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 21

Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain on Saturday said face masks, gloves, soaps and hand sanitisers, which have been declared essential commodities, could be sold at fair price shops across the national capital.

The minister chaired a high-level meeting in the Delhi Secretariat today to review the arrangements of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department for effectively tackling the threat posed by Covid-19.

The teams of Food & Civil Supplies Department and Weights and Measures Department have been asked to regularly visit general, provisional stores, chemists, pharmacies and drug manufacturers dealing in face masks and hand sanitisers to ensure that good quality masks and sanitisers are available and that these commodities are not being overcharged.

The teams are also checking the activities of the dealers for any kind of hoarding and black marketing of masks and sanitisers.

The meeting was attended by the Commissioner, Food & Civil Supplies (F&CS), and other senior officers of food supplies and consumer affairs department. The teams are to take necessary action against the black-marketers and hoarders as per law under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act.

Hussain directed the concerned to take following measures for better management of fair price shops during the fight against Covid-19. Hygienic items such as masks, hand sanitisers and soaps, required to contain the transmission of Covid-19, may be sold at fair price shops subject to the prohibitions and conditions as prescribed under law.

Social distancing may be adopted as a non-pharmaceutical infection prevention and control intervention process. Keeping a distance of one metre among the beneficiaries/persons in a queue, if any, at fair price shops should be maintained.

Face masks/handkerchiefs may be used as one of the measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The team of food and supply department also carried out inspection in Malviya Nagar along with MLA Malaviya Nagar Somnath Bharti.

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Minister directs officials to regularly visit general stores, chemist shops, pharmacies and drug manufacturers to ensure that good quality masks and sanitisers are available and that these commodities are not being sold at higher prices