VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Vancouver’s Quartz Mountain Distillers was surprised Wednesday by a $14,000 fine from the FDA for producing hand sanitizer. But the company found out Thursday evening that the fee won’t be enforced.
Owner Randy Kyle said the distillery began making hand sanitizer in April. The family owners gave most of it away to help local health care workers remain safe.
All distillers that made hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic were facing the fine, but the Department of Health & Human Services on Thursday announced it was directing the FDA not to enforce the fine after the FDA received heavy backlash on social media.