Coronavirus: India lifts ban on export of non-surgical, non-medical masks

The central government has lifted ban on export of non-surgical and non-medical masks to the foreign countries.

However, according to media reports, export of all the medical and surgical masks will remain prohibited.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a notification on Saturday amended its earlier order by allowing the export of non-medical, non-surgical masks made up of cotton, silk, wool, and knitted.

“All other masks falling under ITCHS code, including the HS codes, would continue to remain prohibited for the exports,” read the order by DGFT.

On March 19, as coronavirus cases started to surge in India, resulting in crisis of masks in the country, the Centre had banned exports of all types of masks to foreign countries.

The government also also banned export of sanitisers.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Customs recently intercepted over 5 lakh masks, including raw material, to make masks which was being smuggled to China.

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