FDA Hits Distillers Who Produced Hand Sanitizer Amid Shortage With $14K Fee

Chance1216 wrote:

No good deed goes unpunished.

lostboy819 wrote:

Ok ladies settle down now. https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/federal-government-reverses-course-distilleries-sanitizer-fee Distilleries that made hand sanitizer amid a shortage earlier this year were shocked to learn this week that the Food...

Ok ladies settle down now.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/federal-government-reverses-course-…

Distilleries that made hand sanitizer amid a shortage earlier this year were shocked to learn this week that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was slapping them with a $14,060 fee, but in a reversal Thursday night, the Department of Health and Human Services directed the FDA to cease enforcement of the fees.

"Small businesses who stepped up to fight COVID-19 should be applauded by their government, not taxed for doing so," HHS Chief of Staff Brian Harrison said in a statement.

"I’m pleased to announce we have directed FDA to cease enforcement of these arbitrary, surprise user fees. Happy New Year, distilleries, and cheers to you for helping keep us safe!”

JustMX wrote:

That is all well and good, but how did it even get to the point that the notices were sent out without some voice of reason...

That is all well and good, but how did it even get to the point that the notices were sent out without some voice of reason saying what the hhs statement said?

And it looks like the fee ball got rolling because of a provision in the CARE act that reclassified the distilleries. Why would that even be in there?

Wonder what lovely surprises are in the 6000 page government relief that just passed?

APLMAN99 wrote:

It didn’t directly target them, it was based on any type of business that changed their products to be used as “medical” stuff. The fee was...

It didn’t directly target them, it was based on any type of business that changed their products to be used as “medical” stuff. The fee was supposed to be to finance the cost of needing to check quality, certify that the product met standards, etc.

The “problem” is that it didn’t specifically exclude alcohol producers, which most think that it should.

I know that at first there were several distillers who were giving sanitizer away, or only charging enough to pay for the new packaging that was completely different than their normal liquor packaging. Those guys should definitely be exempt from this fee, in my opinion. If they’ve realized that they can now make a profit and are continuing to produce, then that may be a different story.