Empowering MSMEs with News & Insights

Government considering exports of PPE-coverall

Updated: Jun 25, 2020 11:21:19am
image

Government considering exports of PPE-coverall

New Delhi, June 25 (KNN) The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has urged the government to lift the export ban on N95 masks, PPE-coveralls, and other restricted PPE items saying it is the need of the hour.

Dr A Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, said a single mask manufacturing machine can manufacture one lakh pieces per day and we have more than 200 such machines. Therefore, N95 masks should be opened up for exports without any restrictions on quantities.

He suggested that initially the sampling quantity for foreign buyers may be restricted to 10 PPE-coveralls and 50 numbers N95 masks so that it could be tested in the exporting country.

SITRA, textile labs, etc should be upgraded as per the international accreditation standards.

Considering the request by AEPC, the Ministry of Textiles has assured to discuss with the Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Health to allow shipment of samples of personal protective equipment (PPE) abroad even as PPE manufacturers wait for the export ban to be lifted.

Vijay Kumar, Additional DGFT said, “DGFT is holding discussions with the Ministries of Health and Textiles to make further changes in the export policy of masks and PPEs. DGFT will definitely be guided by the advice of both these ministries when we make any change in the export policy.”

Rajesh Maheshwari, CEO, National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) elaborated on the way forward for manufacturers and shared about the process and the procedures to be followed for the certifications of PPE for global market access.

“You must be aware of the directives whether it is for medical devices or PPE. Classify your products as per your manufacturing capacity whether medical or non-medical, the market that you intend to export, complete all your documentation, prepare the technical file for the product, apply to the notified bodies or approved labs in US and Europe, and then after approval you will have access to these markets,” Maheshwari said.

Speaking at a ‘Panel Discussion on Export Facilitation for PPE-Coverall’, jointly organized by Ministry of Textiles and AEPC, Nihar Ranjan Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, said that the government will facilitate exports of PPE Coveralls and other medical textiles, after ensuring that the need of the  country for these medical supplies are adequately met through domestic production.

PPE Coveralls being medical devices are covered under regulatory conditions applicable to each destination country of exports. Hence, the intending Exporters have to comply with all technical and certification requirements for each country or economic zone, as applicable. On its part, the Government will provide all facilitation including alignment of the domestic laboratories for International certification requirements.

COMMENTS

    Be first to give your comments.

LEAVE A REPLY

Required fields are marked *