Curb on export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits by DGFT

In order to tackle and be prepared for the third wave of the pandemic, the export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits has been put under restricted category with immediate effect, said Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification, recently.

The move would help in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis as these kits are required for testing of patients.

Earlier, exports of rapid antigen testing kits were allowed without any restrictions. Putting them under the restricted category would mean that an exporter will now require a licence from the DGFT for outbound shipments.

On April 4, 2020 DGFT had put restrictions on exports of all diagnostic kits and reagents.

In June 2020 the directorate eased restrictions on export of testing kits and decided to continue with the curbs on only those which are used to diagnose Covid-19. These include VTM kits, RNA extraction kits, RT-PCR kits and reagents, 15mn falcon tube, beads, probes (specific for COVID-19 testing), and reverse transcriptase enzymes.

Recently DGFT has fixed a quota for export of diagnostic kits and their components/laboratory reagents for three months starting July, 2021. These RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits or its component elements (silicone columns, poly adenylic acid or carrier RNA, proteinase K, magnetic stands, beads) and VTM kits or its component elements (15 ml falcon tube or cryovials, sterile synthetic fibre swabs (nylon, polyster, rayon or dacron).

Earlier, the directorate had fixed a quota for export of diagnostic kits and their components/laboratory reagents for the period from December, 2020 to February 2021 through trade notice dated January 19, 2021.