NEW DELHI: The center government has provided exemption on imports of Personal protection equipment (PPE), Covid 19 test kits, ventilators, face masks and surgical masks from basic customs duty and Health cess, with immediate effect.
Input materials required for manufacturing these products have also been exempted from basic customs duty and cess.
According to Government’s statement, “In the context of Covid-19 situation, considering the immediate requirement of ventilators and other items, the Central Government has granted exemption from Basic Customs Duty and Health cess, on the import of these goods, with immediate effect,”
Before the statement, health cess on medical equipment is 5% over and above the customs duty of 7.5%. The total duty, varies between 11% and 22%, depending on the product, officials said. The protection equipments required for medical workers against the Covid 19 spread are in short supply.
The government has taken the step to remove barriers from imports due to the rapid spread of the pandemic.
