The Centre has banned export on all varieties of personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks, following the country’s first confirmed case of coronavirus in Kerala.
“Export 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 (class 2/3/4) and N95 masks] is prohibited with immediate effect till further orders,” a notification by the ministry of commerce and industry on Friday read.
The Centre has made amendments with immediate effect in Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export policy 2018 for prohibiting the export of the goods.
Many manufacturers had increased production of N95 masks due to its high demand in China in addition to meeting its domestic targets.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to the deadly coronavirus has reached 259 in China on Saturday.
United States, Britain and Russia have also reported confirmations of the first cases of novel coronavirus.
The special Air India flight carrying 324 Indian nationals from China landed in New Delhi on Saturday.
The flight had taken off in the wee hours of Saturday from Wuhan.