The Ministry of Commerce has allowed the export by a committee of surgical masks and N-95 / K-95 masks with strict monitoring of their availability in the domestic market.
On 24 March 2020, the Ministry of Commerce put on the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MNHSR&C) a ban on the export of various personal protective equipment (PPE) products.
The business community subsequently began contacting Ministries of Commerce and MNHSR&C with the plea that local PPEs manufacturers manufactured these goods at full capacity resulting in inventory surplus. Therefore they demanded that the surplus PPE products be permitted to be exported against reported foreign orders.
The Ministry of Commerce has proposed that the export of surgical masks and N-95 / K-95 masks may be permitted on the recommendation of the cabinet- constituted committee. Nevertheless, the committee will continue to meet periodically to review all PPE stocks to, if necessary, it will recommend immediately a ban on the export of the stated PPE products.
