Government may soon lift export curbs on RAT, RT-PCR kits

NEW DELHI: After Covid vaccines, PPE kits and hand sanitisers, the government may now soon lift export restrictions from RT-PCR, rapid antigen test (RAT) and RNA extraction kits etc.

The health ministry has recommended revoking export restrictions imposed on Covid-19 diagnostic kits which were imposed earlier in the wake of large number of infected cases in the country.

In a letter to the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), the health ministry has suggested free export of such products. The recommendations are based on deliberations in a meeting of the related Empowered Group-6 in September. The group has decided to revoke the restrictions and allow free export of these products, till further intimation, the letter said. TOI has reviewed a copy of the letter. The final call will be taken by DGFT.

Diagnostic kits, including RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits and VTMs were added under restricted category for exports by the DGFT from June 2020, while RAT kits were included in the list in August 2021.