(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that compounding pharmacies, which mix drug ingredients, can sell alcohol-based hand sanitizers without a specific prescription, to increase supply of the product amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The agency also said it would not take action against manufacturers that are not regulated by the FDA if they made hand sanitizers following certain protocol. (https://bit.ly/395w1OH)

"There have been reports of some consumers attempting to make hand sanitizers for personal use. The agency lacks information on ... whether they are safe for use on human skin," the agency said in a statement.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)