Seifuku Distillery Co. in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, started selling an awamori alcoholic beverage with an alcohol content of 77% on Wednesday, which can be used as a substitute for hand sanitizer for those who need it.
The company has developed the product called Seifuku 77 in response to a shortage of rubbing alcohol due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
Seifuku 77 will be produced to order, and the company will limit sales to the Yaeyama Islands, including Ishigaki Island, for the time being.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has decided to allow alcohol for drinking that has a high alcohol content to be used as a disinfectant, in response to a shortage of sterilizing alcohol caused by the spread of infections with the new coronavirus.
The ministry notified prefectural governments of the decision.
A license is required to manufacture alcohol for disinfection, which is a drug/quasi-drug under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Law.
The ministry's decision is a response to rapidly increasing demand for alcohol due to the outbreak.
According to the ministry, sake with an ethanol concentration of 70% to 83% can be used to disinfect hands and fingers in medical institutions, elderly people's homes and other facilities.
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