A California distiller told Fox News that the Food and Drug Administration’s $ 14,000 surprise over artisanal distillers that switched to hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus pandemic felt like being “slapped” for doing the right thing. .
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), just two days after the FDA announcement, said it will ensure that this does not happen, which Aaron Bergh, president of Calwise Spirits in Paso Robles, told America’s Newsroom that it did not. wait.
“I got into it trying to do the right thing, trying to help during the pandemic. I registered, did everything the FDA required of us and I feel like I got slapped for it,” said Bergh.
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He noted that many distilleries were giving the disinfectant for free or selling it at a low margin to help.
“I feel like we have the credit we deserve and just a show of support,” said Bergh. “I mean, it’s really only been 24 hours since we released this story and created this public outcry: ‘Hey, why is it fair to charge distilleries $ 14,000 when they helped?’
“I think it was really cool to see how the public came out in our defense on this,” said Bergh.
Representative Denver Riggleman, R-Va., Himself a distiller, released a statement, saying: “I am happy to see a ‘Whiskey Rebellion’ against bureaucratic absurdities displayed by the FDA. HHS responded professionally and appropriately by terminating the ridiculous producer fee for distilleries that sacrificed their own treasure to produce hand sanitizer for COVID PPE’s efforts. “
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Riggleman added: “God bless the distillers and all the companies that worked in times of need. Whiskey is freedom.”
Bergh said the pandemic was the “roller coaster of the year”, but he is grateful to the community for supporting his business.