Hand sanitiser guide

About hand sanitisers

There are 2 categories of hand sanitisers currently available on the Australian market.

Hand sanitisers for medical or therapeutic use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

View more information about therapeutic hand sanitisers.

These hand sanitisers are general consumer products (cosmetics) and aren’t regulated by the TGA if they:

are for personal or domestic use only
aren’t for use in a health care setting
have claims that are limited to levels of activity against bacteria or germs, such as kills 99.9% of germs
have no claims against viruses
contain only low-risk ingredients. It doesn’t contain a substance included in Schedules 2, 3, 4 or 8 of the Poisons Standard
aren’t presented for use in connection with disease, disorders, medical conditions or certain medical procedures.

Many hand sanitisers are alcohol-based, containing 60% or more alcohol. Accidentally swallowing even a small amount may cause serious health issues.

There have been incidents of children swallowing hand sanitiser as they confused the packaging with food items.

Check the ingredients label. For hand sanitiser to be effective, it needs to have at least 60% alcohol content, or another active ingredient.
Check for any ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction to you or your family.
If the ingredients aren’t listed on the product or provided in other forms before you buy, or the supplier can’t answer your questions, don’t buy the product. You can report it to us.
If you have children at home, look for hand sanitiser that has child-resistant packaging or other closures. This makes it difficult for children or other vulnerable people to access the product.
When buying hand sanitiser in bulk to refill existing or new bottles, choose appropriate refill bottles that don’t resemble food or beverage products.

Always keep hand sanitiser out of reach of children. Children should only apply hand sanitiser under adult supervision.
Hand sanitiser is for external use only.
If swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.
Keep hand sanitiser away from any type of open flame as its ingredients are highly flammable.
Stop using hand sanitiser if it causes skin irritation.
For more safety information on hand sanitisers and hand hygiene, see the Therapeutic Goods Australia and the Department of Health websites.

When buying a product, consumers have the right to expect the product is of acceptable quality.

Acceptable quality includes that the product is safe, durable and free from defects.

If you bought a product that doesn’t comply with the mandatory standard or is unsafe, you can report it to us.

Report an unsafe product

If you think someone has swallowed hand sanitiser call the Poisons Information Centre at any time on 131 126.