Centre Amends Export Policy To Allow Export Of All Ventilators [Read Notification]

The Central Government has issued notification allowing the export of all ventilators.

Notification No. 53 dated 24.03.2020 is amended to the extent that all ventilators including any artificial respiratory apparatus or oxygen therapy apparatus or any other breathing appliance/device are made "free" for export, Directorate General of Foreign Trade stated in a notification issued today. 

The export prohibition on ventilators was imposed in March 2020 to ensure domestic availability to effectively fight COVID-19. All types of ventilators were prohibited for export vide DGFT Notification No. 53 w.e.f 24.03.2020. 

As per Section 3 of the the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, the Central Government is empowered to make provision for prohibiting, restricting or otherwise regulating import or export of goods or services or technology.

"Free" means export is permitted without a licence from Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Earlier, it was reported that a high-level group of ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 agreed to a proposal by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to allow the export of indigenously manufactured ventilators.

"The significant decision comes on the heels of India continuing to maintain a progressively declining low rate of case fatality of COVID-19 patients, which currently stands at 2.15 percent, which means that fewer numbers of active cases are on ventilators.. Now with export of ventilators having been allowed, it is hoped that domestic ventilators would be in a position to find new markets for Indian ventilators in foreign countries." Health ministry had stated in a press release.

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