Consumers are being duped into buying substandard sanitisers by "unscrupulous" manufacturers, according to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
These sanitisers even bear fake seals of approval from the bureau.
Makers and distributors of the genuine product warned that low-quality versions could trigger allergies, reduce protection against the coronavirus and pose a risk of catching fire because of the amount of alcohol used.
The SABS said this week that it has noticed a "definite increase" in the fraudulent use of its mark on packaging.
It is battling to stop the increase of a growing "garage industry" of sanitiser manufacturers. Social media platforms have advertised sales of the dubious products, which are claimed to have been vetted by the SABS.
• 70% - The minimum alcohol content in sanitisers as recommended by the World Health Organisation
• R224,000 - The amount of money spent by one wholesaler on 16,000 bottles of fake sanitiser
— in numbers
The bureau said it tries to investigate all claims of fraudulent use of its mark, but some "unscrupulous" makers still use it.
"We have issued cease-and-desist letters to transgressors and continue to monitor their activity," it said. It has also referred complaints to the National Consumer Commission, which is mandated to investigate consumer complaints.
SABS lead administrator Jodi Scholtz said: "In some cases the letters are sufficient to stop the use of the mark, but not necessarily the sale of the product.
"In cases where the mark infringement continues, we take legal steps."
Scholtz said there has also been an increase in fake test reports.
The SABS usually conducts a conformity assessment relating to a sample of the product submitted for testing.
"It is important that manufacturers have their products tested and certified, so consumers can have peace of mind.
"Using untested products could be harmful," said Scholtz. "Blistering, burning and respiratory problems can be caused by incorrectly utilising products."
The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications - which oversees product standards relating to human health, safety and the environment - said the challenge lies in there being no regulatory standards for sanitisers in SA because "we were caught off-guard with the coronavirus".
The regulator said it has begun discussions with the SABS to try to get new regulations legislated that conform with international standards.
Khumbulani Mpofu, a director of Kane Solutions, which distributes sanitisers passed by the SABS, said if a product "has less than 70% alcohol in its composition, it loses its efficacy. If it has more, it leads to other risks, such as combustion. Some people are allergic to alcohol and it may be a skin irritant for others."
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