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India coronavirus fight hampered by China medical exports delays

  • Speedy shipments of protective equipment and other supplies would be an ‘immediate boost’ to relations between the two countries, Indian ambassador says
  • New quality regulations to address European concerns about substandard items have led to uncertain supplies for other countries

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Personal protective equipment is made by personnel at a Central Reserve Police Force camp in New Delhi. Photo: Xinhua

India is calling on China to speed up the shipping of medical supplies held up due to new quality standards imposed after Beijing was accused of exporting flawed products to Europe.

With India’s confirmed cases of the new coronavirus rising above 10,000, the Indian ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, said on Tuesday that Beijing’s facilitation in the procurement of medical equipment would boost relations between the two countries.

Misri said a number of Indian entities, including local governments, had ordered test kits and medical equipment such as masks, ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) from China but were having problems receiving the orders.

The delay is due to China’s tightened export policy, imposed earlier this month, which requires Chinese medical products to be accredited for sale in their home country, even if they meet the quality standards of the countries to which they are exported.
India’s ambassador to China, Vikram Misri. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
India’s ambassador to China, Vikram Misri. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The new measure was introduced after a number of complaints from buyers in Europe about the quality and accuracy of test kits and other products.

“It would be a welcome step for Chinese authorities, such as the national medical products authority, to expedite the registration of these companies and these products that have a large number of orders in the pipeline already to India,” Misri said.

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