China Lifts COVID-19 Material Restrictions and Strengthens Quality Supervision

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China is ramping up exports of COVID-19 prevention supplies. Regulations that hinder exports are being relaxed while quality supervision is being strengthened.

According to the state-run Global Times on the 27th, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that the export value of medical supplies reached 55 billion yuan in March and April. As of the 25th, it explained that 192 medical equipment export contracts were signed with 74 countries and regions and 6 international organizations. By item, there were 21.1 billion masks, 109 million protective suits, 32,009,400 medical goggles, 110,000 patient monitors, and 763 million surgical gloves.

The Ministry of Commerce emphasized that China has never restricted exports of COVID-19 prevention supplies. It stated that regulations are being relaxed and quality supervision is being strengthened to enable more exports of prevention supplies in the future.

Until now, the Chinese government has only allowed companies with domestic sales licenses to export COVID-19 diagnostic kits, medical masks, protective suits, oxygen respirators, infrared thermometers, and other prevention and medical supplies. However, it took a long time and complicated procedures for companies to obtain sales licenses, making exports practically difficult.

To resolve these issues, the Ministry of Commerce, together with the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration for Market Regulation, deleted the export eligibility conditions for prevention supplies in a notice announced on the night of the 25th. The State Administration for Market Regulation recently inspected 15.89 million businesses in China, detected 89.05 million defective masks, and imposed fines totaling 348 million yuan, reflecting a trend of strengthening quality supervision for export goods.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.