LANSING, Mich.—Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is allowing the state’s distilleries to produce ethanol-based hand sanitizer in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Distillery production of hand sanitizer was ordered to meet the current demand for the product in the state.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) relaxed regulations in order to allow distilleries to make denatured alcohol. 

Typically, to do so, an industrial manufacturing permit is needed but under the eased rules, Michigan distilleries without the permits can make hand sanitizer. 

The rules are approved through June 30, 2020 with the possibility of an extension if necessary.