Japanese cosmetics maker Shiseido Co. said Monday it will begin selling hand sanitizers to the general public from early August, responding to popular demand for the product it started making available for medical institutions three months ago.
Hand sanitizers for the general consumer will hit the shelves in cosmetics and drugstores in Tokyo first, before being distributed to other areas across Japan.
Containing moisturizing ingredients to prevent hands becoming too dry, the product will be sold in 500-milliliter bottles at a price yet to be fixed, the company said. Refill packs of the same volume will also be available so the pump can be reused.
Shiseido will produce 100,000 liters per month at its factories in Tochigi and Osaka prefectures and two other domestic plants.
Major Japanese companies have been branching into new fields to address shortages caused by the new coronavirus outbreak, with beverage maker Suntory Holdings Ltd. providing alcohol disinfectants free of charge to hospitals since April.
The government has also been encouraging companies to step up production by offering subsidies to those installing more manufacturing equipment.
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