JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Distilleries that stepped up to make hand sanitizer during the height of the pandemic are now being slapped with a fee by the Food and Drug Administration.
St. Augustine Distillery CEO Philip McDaniel said they found out Tuesday.
McDaniel said anyone who made sanitizer would have to pay about $14,000 total in fees by February 11. If they do not wish to continue making products, they have to de-register with the FDA by the end of the year to avoid being charged again in 2022.
“Extremely short notice directly before the holidays. The timing of it was the most frustrating,” McDaniel said. “Everybody is freaking out just saying ‘why is this happening and what do we do.”
St. Augustine Distillery is not planning on continuing to produce sanitizer, but still has thousands of bottles in stock. Now McDaniel questions what are the guidelines for getting rid of it.
”We don’t even have clarification on some of the products we have left over. Can we even give it away?” he asked.
McDaniel said he wished the FDA had started the conversation three months ago, instead of blindsiding the industry.
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Cox Media Group
