Coronavirus: Government bans export of all types of ventilators, sanitizers

In its efforts to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government on Tuesday prohibited the export of all kind of ventilators, including any artificial respiratory apparatus or oxygen therapy apparatus or any other breathing device.

Commerce and Industry Ministry said that the government has also prohibited the export of all Sanitizers. The Ministry said the Ventilators were put in the prohibited category on March 19, 2020.

"The export of all ventilators including any artificial respiratory apparatus or oxygen therapy apparatus or any other breathing appliance/devices... is prohibited with immediate effect," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

It said the notification was issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Tuesday further amends the export policy. It widens the ambit of products under the prohibited category and will prevent any scope of export of these items by any other classification.

DGFT also changed the export norm for sanitisers from 'free' to 'prohibited'.

As per the notification, the government will also not honour any letter of credit established before March 24 under the transitional arrangement under the Foreign Trade Policy.