The EU has imposed restrictions on exports of certain personal protective equipment (PPE), whether originating or not in the European Union, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The restrictions are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402 and are directly applicable in all the EU Member States as from 15 March.
An authorization is required to export the following PPE:
- Protective spectacles and visors of CN ex 9004 90 10 and ex 9004 90 90 with the following characteristics:
- Protection against potentially infectious material;
- Encircling the eyes and surroundings;
- Compatible with different models of filtering facepiece (FFP) masks and facial masks;
- Transparent lens;
- Reusable (can be cleaned and disinfected) or single-use items;
- Face shields of CN ex 3926 90 97 and ex 9020 00 00 with the following characteristics:
- Equipment for the protection of the facial area and associated mucous membranes (ex: eyes, nose, mouth) against potentially infectious material;
- Includes a visor of transparent material;
- Usually includes fixations to secure over the face (e.g., bands, temples);
- Can include a mouth-nose protection equipment as described below;
- Reusable (can be cleaned and disinfected) or disposable;
- Mouth-nose-protection equipment of CN ex 6307 90 98 and ex 9020 00 00 with the following characteristics:
- Masks for the protection of the wearer against potentially infectious material and for the protection of the environment against potentially infectious material spread by the wearer;
- Can include a face shield as described above;
- Whether or not equipped with a replaceable filter;
- Protective garments of CN ex 3926 20 00, ex 4015 90 00, ex 6113 00, ex 6114, ex 6210 10 10, 6210 10 92, ex 6210 10 98, ex 6210 20 00, ex 6210 30 00, ex 6210 40 00, ex 6210 50 00, ex 6211 32 10, ex 6211 32 90, ex 6211 33 10, ex 6211 33 90, ex 6211 39 00, ex 6211 42 10, ex 6211 42 90, ex 6211 43 10, ex 6211 43 90, ex 6211 49 00, ex 9020 00 00 with the following characteristics:
- Garment (e.g., gown, suit) for the protection of the wearer against potentially infectious material and for the protection of the environment against potentially infectious material spread by the wearer;
- Gloves of CN ex 3926 20 00; 4015 11 00; ex 4015 19 00; ex 6116 10 20; ex 6116 10 80; ex 6216 00 00 with the following characteristics:
- Gloves for the protection of the wearer against potentially infectious material and for the protection of the environment against potentially infectious material spread by the wearer.
Member States' authorities must process the applications within the time specified by national law, which must not exceed 5 working days from the date all required information were submitted to the authorities. If the exporter has the PPE in a Member State other than that where the application was made, the exporter should indicate this on the application and the Member State concerned will contact the other Member States to provide this information. The other Member States must inform the Member State where the application was made within 10 days if they have any objections to granting such authorisation.
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