PHMSA reinstates hand sanitizer enforcement policy

Posted December 11, 2020

After indicating they would not extend the hand sanitizer enforcement policy, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is doing an about-face and will reinstate the policy. The enforcement policy is intended for offerors and carriers who offer, or transport hand sanitizers manufactured and packaged prior to October 31, 2020, and in accordance with the previous Notices of Enforcement Discretion that were issued on April 10, 2020 and June 24, 2020. The extended enforcement discretion will continue through March 31, 2021.

Why reinstate the policy?

Hand sanitizer manufacturers are currently required to comply with all applicable hazardous materials regulations since the last enforcement policy expired on October 31, 2020. However, it was discovered that some hand sanitizers manufactured and packaged under the previous Notice of Enforcement Discretion have not yet been delivered to end users.

To facilitate a continued response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, PHMSA reinstated and extended the Notice of Enforcement Discretion to offerors and carriers who offer or transport hand sanitizers manufactured and packaged prior to October 31, 2020, and in accordance with the previous Notices of Enforcement Discretion.

This article was written by Michael Atkinson of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.