Government puts masks and hand sanitisers under Essential Commodities Act.
ECA enacted by Parliament in 1955 provides for the regulation and control of production, distribution and pricing of commodities which are declared as essential.
Aim: Maintaining/increasing supplies/securing equitable distribution and availabilityof these commodities at fair prices.
The Centre can include new commodities as and when the need arises, and can take them off the list once the situation improves (in view of public interest).
Once a notification is issued, anybody trading or dealing in a commodity, be it wholesalers, retailers or even importers are prevented from stockpiling it beyond a certain quantity
States are the implementing agencies to EC Act, 1955
