India bans export of respiratory masks

NEW DELHI, Jan 31: India on Friday banned exports of all kinds of personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks used to protect people from airborne particles.
The move assumes significance as there could be a spurt in demand for such products due to the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus that has claimed more than 200 lives in China while the number of confirmed cases reached near 10,000.
“Exports of all varieties of personal protection equipment including clothing and masks used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and/or any other respiratory masks or any other personal protective clothing (including coveralls and N95 masks)… is hereby prohibited with immediate effect till further orders,” the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
In a separate notification, the DGFT has also banned imports of stock lot papers.
These are kind of discarded, improper sized and unused papers.
The move aims at cutting down imports of non-essential items into the country. (PTI)