Procedure and Criteria for Export of N-95/FFP2 Masks

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has specified the Procedure and criteria for the export of N-95/FFP2 Masks vide Trade Notice No. 25/2020-2021. With this notification, the DGFT has amended the Export Policy of N-95/FFP2 Masks and placed their exports in the Restricted Export Item (Non-SCOMET) category from prohibited earlier. Hence the exporter needs to obtain export authorization from the Government for shipments of N-95/FFP2 Masks. DGFT also announced that the export quota for N-95/FFP2 Masks had been fixed and shipment will be allowed only based on the export quota. The exporter can apply for export authorization/license online through the New DGFT Platform under the Non-SCOMET Restricted items sections. The present article briefs the Procedure to obtain an export license for the export of N-95 or FFP2 Masks.

Important Announcement for Exporter

The Trade Notice on 31st August 2020 has outlined the procedure and Criteria for submitting and approving applications for the export of N-95 or FFP2 Masks.

The DGFT has announced that the N-95/FFP2 Masks are put in the restricted category, making it mandatory for exporters to get a license from DGFT to export the product.
As per the trade notice, the DGFT also announced that the export quota for N-95/FFP2 Masks had been fixed and shipment will be allowed only based on the export quota.
The exporter can apply for an export license as Non-SCOMET Restricted items and exports are not required to forward any hard copy of the application via email or post to DGFT.

Note: All masks except N95/FFP2 masks or their equivalent are freely exportable.

Export Quota for N-95/FFP2 Masks

The DGFT is fixed the export quota for N-95/FFP2 Masks. As per the notification, the export of only 50 lakh N-95 /FFP2 Mask will be allowed per month. Export of only one crore total units of N-95/FFP2 Masks will be allowed for August and September.

Prescribed Date for Application Submission

The application filed for the export of N-95 or FFP2 Masks from 7th – 9th September 2020 will only be considered for export authorization. All applications for the export of N-95 or FFP2 Masks will be examined as per the Handbook Procedure.

The validity of Export Authorization/License

The validity of the Export Authorization/License for the export of N-95 or FFP2 Masks is three months from the date of the issue.

Eligibility Criteria to Obtain Export License

The firm applying for the export license should be the manufacturer of N-95/FFP2 Masks.

Documents Required for Export License

The exporter must furnish the following documents to obtain export authorization for the shipment of N-95/FFP2 Masks.

Documentary proof of manufacturing N-95/FFP2 Masks
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for medical N-95/FFP2 Masks
Copy of Purchase order
Copy of the Import Export Code of the Firm

Note: All documents must be duly self–attested by the authorized person of the firm. Only one application per Import Export Code (IEC) will be considered for processing for a month.

Procedure to get the license for Export of FFP2/N-95 Masks

The exporter can obtain the Export Authorization of Non-SCOMET Restricted items by applying DGFT‘s ECOM application module. After a successful login using the ECOM application module through Digital Certificate on the DGFT website, the ECOM Reference number will be displayed. After furnishing the following details, the exporter must upload all supporting documents.

Shipment Details
Details of Products to be exported
Details of foreign Buyer or Consignee

Once the DGFT accepts the license request, the export authorization for the shipment of N-95 or FFP2 Masks will be issued. Click here to learn more about the Procedure to get Export Authorization for Non-SCOMET Restricted items.