Export of certain syringes under ‘quantitative restriction’ for 3 mths, Centre clarifies

New Delhi : The Union Health Ministry clarified on Saturday that a “quantitative restriction” has been put on the export of certain types of syringes, for a limited period of three months.

The ministry said the restrictions are put to ensure adequate availability of the syringes used to administer the COVID-19 vaccines.

“With firm political commitment to vaccinate India’s last citizen, the Government has put in place a quantitative restriction on the export of syringes to boost their domestic availability and uptake,” the ministry of health and family welfare said on Saturday.

“Syringes are vital to sustain the momentum of the program to vaccinate all eligible Citizens in the shortest possible time. With a view to ensure adequate availability of the syringes, used to administer the vaccine, the Government of India has enacted this quantitative restriction,” it added.

The government specified that restrictions on the export are imposed on three categories of syringes –0.5 ml/ 1ml AD (auto–disable) syringes, 0.5 ml/1 ml/2 ml/3 ml disposable syringes and 1ml/2 ml/3 ml RUP (re-use prevention) syringes.
The syringes other than those mentioned above are not covered under the government’s quantitative restriction, it said.

Earlier this week, the Centre had imposed an embargo on the export of syringes to discourage outbound shipments of the product.

In a notification issued on Monday, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had directed “the export of syringes with or without needles under the restricted category with immediate effect.”

However, the industry body All India Syringe and Needle Manufacturers Association on Tuesday had expressed disappointment over the decision to restrict the export of syringes and urged the government not to put curbs on the export of non-Covid-19 size syringes.

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