India has banned the export of rapid antigen tests to detect the novel coronavirus. In a notification dated August 16, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) mentioned that the export policy for Covid-19 rapid antigen testing kits has been amended.
As a result, their export will now be restricted with immediate effect, DGFT said.
The DGFT has mentioned two categories that will be included into the restricted list under the amended export policy for Covid-19 rapid antigen tests. The first category refers to diagnostic or laboratory reagents, while the second one covers blood samples for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses, antisera and other blood fractions and modified immunological products.
The export regulator further clarified that rapid antigen tests falling under other HS codes will also face restrictions on exports as the above two.
While RT-PCR tests are believed to be the gold standard for detecting Covid-19 infections, rapid antigen tests are used for getting quick results. Usually their positive results are double-checked with an RT-PCR test.
As the nation struggles with the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic and the threat of third wave linger, experts have called for widespread use of rapid antigen tests in order to keep watch over any surge in infections.
Several experts have been warning of a possible third wave of the pandemic hitting the country in the near future.
The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 3,22,25,513 on Monday and the death toll climbed to 4,31,642, according to the Union health ministry data.
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