Last updated: August 22nd, 2024 11:13 AM

Amendment in Export Policy of Personal Protection Equipments/Masks

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the Export Policy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) /Mask vide Notification No. 29/2015-2020. DGFT has removed restrictions on the export of PPE medical coveralls (including medical coveralls for COVID-19) and 2/3 ply surgical masks and allowed exports of N95 and equivalent masks under monthly quota. The present article briefs the Amendment in the Export Policy of Personal Protection Equipment/Masks.

Export Policy of Personal Protection Equipment/Masks

DGFT, vide Notification No. 29/2015-20 dated 25th August 2020, has made the following Amendments in Notification No. 21 dated 28.07.2020, amending Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy 2018 related to the export of Personal Protection equipment.

Serial Number	ITC HS Codes	Description	Export Policy	Policy Condition
207A	901850 901890 9020 392690 621790 630790	Following Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) exported either as part of kits or as individual items.
		Medical Coveralls  of all Classes/ Categories	Free	PPE medical coveralls are freely exportable.
		Medical Goggles	Restricted	A monthly export quota of 20 lakh units of Medical Goggles
		N95/FFP2 masks or their equivalent	Restricted	A monthly export quota of 50 Lakh units
		All masks (Except N95/FFP2 masks or its equivalent)	Free	All masks (except N95/FFP2 covers or their equivalent) are freely exportable
		Nitrile/NBR Gloves	Prohibited
		Face Shields	Free	Face Shields are freely exportable

Export of 2/3 Ply Surgical masks and Medical coveralls

The export policy of 2/3 Ply Surgical masks, medical coveralls of all classes, and categories (including medical coveralls for COVID-19) is amended from Restricted to Free category, and these coveralls (including gowns and aprons of all types) are now freely exportable.

Export of Medical goggles

Considering the demand for Medical goggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government revised the export policy and allowed the export of Medical goggles with a license. Per this DGFT notification, Medical goggles remain in a restricted category and are categorized as Restricted Export Items (Non-SCOMET). Hence the exporter needs to obtain export authorization from the Government for shipments of Medical goggles. The exporter can apply for export authorization/license online through the official website of DGFT under the Non-SCOMET Restricted items sections.

Monthly Export Quota for Export of Medical goggles

As mentioned above, a monthly export quota of 20 Lakh PPE Medical goggles units has been fixed, and the application filed from the 5th to the 8th day of each month will be considered for that month's quota. All applications for the export of PPE Medical Coveralls will be examined as per the Handbook Procedure, and all application approval will be done by the 10th of every month. Note: Only one application per Import Export Code will be considered during a Month

The validity of Export Authorization/License

The validity of the Export Authorization/License for the export of Medical goggles for COVID-19 is three months from the date of the issue.

Eligibility Criteria to Obtain Export License

Exporters (Both Manufacturers and Merchant exporters) may apply online for export authorization for the export of Medical goggles.

Documents Required for Export License

The exporter needs to furnish the following documents to obtain export authorization for the shipment of Medical goggles.

• Documentary proof of manufacturing of Medical Goggles
• Copy of the Import Export Code of the Firm
• Copy of Purchase order or Invoice

Note: All documents must be duly self–attested by the authorized person of the firm.

Procedure to get the Export license

The exporter can obtain the Export Authorization of Non-SCOMET Restricted items by applying DGFT's ECOM application module. Once the DGFT accepts the license request, the export authorization for the shipment of Medical Goggles will be issued. Know more about the Procedure to Obtain Export Authorization of Non-SCOMET Restricted items

Export of Nitrile/NBR gloves

Exports of gloves made from nitrile rubber, a synthetic variety, are generally known as NBR, and gloves made from nitrile will continue to be banned, according to a notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Export  of N-95/FFP2 masks

The export policy of N-95/ Filtering facepiece respirators (FFP2) masks or their equivalent masks is revised from "Prohibited" to the "Restricted" category. A monthly export quota of 50 lakh units has been fixed for N-95/FFP2 masks or its equivalent for issuing export licenses to eligible applicants as per the criteria to be separately published in a Trade Notice.

Export of Face Shield

According to this notification, face shields are freely exportable. The DGFT's notification about the Export Policy of Personal Protection Equipment/Masks is attached below for reference.