FDA needlessly punishes businesses that stepped up during coronavirus lockdown Print this article
The coronavirus pandemic has left the government dependent on public compliance and the goodwill of its citizens. But now that the end is in sight, our bureaucratic overlords seem to be doing everything they can to squash what little benevolence remains.
This month, the Food and Drug Administration reportedly slapped hundreds of distilleries with an unexpected fee of more than $14,000 because they produced hand sanitizer in the early days of the pandemic. Keep in mind: Craft distillers across the country began producing sanitizer because the United States was facing a massive shortage as panicked shoppers bought hand soap, cleaning wipes, and other sanitation products in bulk. Now, they’re being punished for helping consumers and healthcare workers during their time of need.
UPDATE: Catoctin Creek, other distilleries won t face large fees for making sanitizer during pandemic loudountimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from loudountimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File
When cities and states across America locked down to stop the spread of COVID-19, distilleries lost key moneymaking opportunities, from the loss of tourism to the closure of tasting rooms and cocktail bars, to the loss of in-store sampling. Despite these struggles, many distilleries decided to give back to the community by making hand sanitizer when communities across America suffered shortages. The government has rewarded this generosity with a bill for $14,000.
“At the beginning of the pandemic the FDA and our communities called out for help and distillers enthusiastically stepped up to the plate and provided an essential product to medical workers and first responders,” Aaron Bergh, a craft distiller and owner of Calwise Spirits on California’s Central Coast, told
For their troubles, distilleries that retooled to make hand sanitizer in spring now face $14K fee lakegenevanews.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lakegenevanews.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Local distilleries surprised with thousands in fees for making hand sanitizer By Trevor Peters | December 31, 2020 at 6:09 PM EST - Updated January 1 at 2:19 PM
UPDATE: The Department of Health and Human Services asked the FDA Thursday night to stop enforcing the fees described in this story. Full story below.
“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!” (2/2) HHS Office of Public Affairs (@SpoxHHS) December 31, 2020
NEWPORT, Ky. (FOX19) - It’s ‘not-so-Happy-Hour’ at New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky. A gesture, owners thought was helping in the COVID-19 pandemic response, is turning into thousands of dollars in government fees.