Lok Sabha Question No. 935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Export of PPE Suits
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan, A.K.P. Chinraj, Shobha Karandlaje

## EXPORT OF PPE SUITS

## 935. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that 5 million PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) suits were produced in a month and the textile industry has been seeking permission to export these surplus PPE suits and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is formulating any proposal to grant permission to export the surplus PPE suits, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether production capacity of PPEs required by medical personnel treating COVID-19 cases in the country has been ramped up, if so, the details thereof and the cumulative production of PPE units till date;

(d)  whether  Bengaluru  has  been  leading  the  way  in  PPE  Coveralls  production  and  if  so,  the  other places in the country where PPE Coveralls are being manufactured and exported;

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to streamline supply chain, remove bottlenecks and maintain a steady supply of PPEs in the country;

(f)  the  details  of  Laboratories  approved  for  testing  of  PPE  Coveralls  required  for  protection  from COVID; and

(g) whether the detailed procedure for issue of Unique Certification Code for each passed prototype sample of the PPE Coveralls has been issued by the Government, if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): The capacity and production of PPE Coveralls for COVID-19 touched a peak of 5 lakh per day in mid May 2020. From zero manufacturers in March 2020, 1100 indigenous manufacturers of PPE kits have been developed by the Government till date, most of them being from MSME sector. Since the country had sufficient raw materials and production capacity of PPE Coveralls to meet the domestic demand, textile industry sought permission to export surplus PPE suits. After considering demand from the industry, the ban on export was lifted by the Government vide its Notification dated 25.8.2020 issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).  As on 13.9.2020, a total of 1.42 crore PPE kits have been supplied to M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. - the procurement arm of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare(MoHFW) for use of health professionals in government hospitals.  The manufacturers supplying PPE Coveralls to MoHFW were from all textiles clusters spread across the country which included Bengaluru, Tirupur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, etc. Apart from supply to MoHFW more than 1 crore PPE Coveralls have been supplied by indigenous manufacturers to State Governments and private hospitals.

(e): In order to streamline supply chain, remove bottlenecks and maintain a steady supply of PPEs in the country, a centralized Emergency Control Room was established in the Ministry working round the  clock  with  the  200  Nodal  Officers  appointed  across  the  value  chain  to  monitor/ facilitate  from supply  of  raw  material  to  the  units,  testing  and  certification,  to  delivery  of  final  product  to  its destination  during  lockdown  period.  The  supply-demand  scenario  is  also  closely  monitored  by  the Government during the COVID-19.

(f): The  details  of  11  Laboratories  developed  for  testing  of  PPE  Coveralls  required  for  protection from COVID-19 is at Annexure-I.

(g): The procedure for issue of Unique Certification Code for each passed prototype sample of the PPE Coveralls has been issued by the Government vide letter dated 6.4.2020 (Annexure-II). Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued the Indian Standards IS: 9473 for N-95/ FFP2 masks in June 2020. The procedure of testing and certification by the approved Laboratories of Ministry of Textiles has now been migrated to Bureau of Indian Standard licensing.

## To:-

- (i) Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
- (ii) Secretary, Deptt. Of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, New Delhi
- (iii) Director General Ordnance Factory and Chairman, Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata
- (iv) Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards, Manak Bhawan, New Delhi
- (v) Director, South India Textile Research Association, Coimbatore
- (vi) Director, INMAS, New Delhi
- (vii) Secretary, Textiles Committee, Mumbai
- (viii) Director General - North India Textile Research Association, Ghaziabad
- (ix) Textile Commissioner, Mumbai
- (x) CMD, M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. Camp Office: Delhi and HO Trivandrum
- (xi) Notice Board: Ministry of Textiles, official website

F.No.8/4/2020-R&D Government of India Ministry of Textiles ***

## O R D E R

Subject:

List  of  Laboratories  equipped  to  conduct  testing  and  certification  of  Synthetic  Blood Penetration Resistance Test required for Body-Coveralls for COVID-19- reg.

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In  continuation  of  this  Ministry's  letter  of  even  number  dated  8.6.2020,  it  is    informed  that following laboratories/ establishments are equipped to conduct testing and certification of Synthetic Blood Penetration Resistance Test required for Body-Coveralls for COVID-19 :--

- (i) South India Textile Research Association, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- (ii) Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior now at INMAS (DRDO) laboratory at Delhi.
- (iii) Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, Tamil Nadu
- (iv) Small Arms Factory, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- (v) Ordnance Factory at Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh
- (vi) Ordnance Factory at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- (vii) Ordnance Factory Ambernath (Near Mumbai), Maharashtra
- (viii) Metal and Steel Factory, Ishapore (Near Kolkata), West Bengal
- (ix) Laboratory of Textiles Committee, Mumbai
- (x) North India Textile Research Association, Ghaziabad
- (xi) Laboratory of Textiles Committee, Bangalore
2. All above testing laboratories may conduct Synthetic Blood Penetration Resistance Test of samples of 'Body Coveralls for COVID-19' received from HLL Lifecare Ltd., BIS  or any Government organisation and issue Test Results.  However, as the BIS has started issuing license for 'Body Coveralls for COVID-19', no Lab will issue UCC to any PPE Coverall manufacturer.
3. Further, these laboratories may take samples of 'Body Coveralls for COVID-19' from organisations other than Government Organisation only for the purpose of Internal Quality Control and product development. While issuing results of such tests, Labs must state the following:-
- 'This test reports is being issued for the purpose of Internal Quality Control and product development only.'

Sd/(Balram Kumar) Director Tel: 2306 3728

Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi Dated 16 th July, 2020

## F. No.8/4/2020-R&D Government of India Ministry of Textiles

## Annexexure-II

Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi Dated 6 th April 2020

Some instances  have  come  to  the  notice  of  this  Ministry,  where  Manufacturers  /  Suppliers  whose proto-type samples for Body Coveralls for COVID-19 have failed laboratory tests, are still supplying their Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Body Coveralls in the market.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare,  Government  of  India  has  published  a  Comprehensive Guideline  for  Personal  Protection  Equipment  for  COVID-19.  Since  March  2020,  the  indigenous development  of  Manufacturers  of  Body  Coveralls  has  been  based  on  the  MoH&FW's  guidelines published on 2 nd March 2020.

As of now, there are two laboratories in the country which have the facilities as well as necessary approvals, for conducting tests on Body Coveralls (PPE) required for COVID-19. These are; South India  Textiles  Research  Association  (SITRA),  Coimbatore;  and  Defence  Research  &  Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior. The Tests and Certifications of Body Coveralls (PPE) conducted at these two laboratories in India are the only officially recognized ones.

In order to ensure that quality and safety standards of Body Coveralls are maintained consistently, as required in terms of Guidelines of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India for COVID-19, the following instructions are issued for compliance:

1. For each test conducted at SITRA in respect of a fabric and the PPE  garments,  for  which proto-type  samples  are sent  by  the

respective manufacturers, SITRA will generate a Unique Certification Code (UCC-COVID 19).This code  should  keep  records  of  the  type  of  fabric,  type  of  garment,  and  its  date  of  testing,    testing standard, and other relevant particulars. SITRA will preserve the test sample in sealed condition in its custody  for  any  future  reference  by  a  government  agency.  The  Certification  should  have  a  fixed validation period in consistency with international norms. SITRA will issue such procedure even in respect of the proto-type samples tested since March 2020 and onwards.

2. Similar procedure as in Para 1 above, may be followed by DRDE, Gwalior.
3. The PPE Garment (Body Coveralls for COVID-19) manufacturer will manufacture Coveralls in accordance with the materials and workmanship as per the tested and certified proto-type sample, which is linked with the UCC-COVID 19. Any change in component of proto-type shall require a new test and certification and generation of a new Code.
4. The PPE (Body Coverall for COVID-19) garment manufacturer will either print in indelible ink,  or  stick  a  tamper-proof  sticker,  on  the  body  of  the  garment  on  the  inside  of  the  PPE  with  the following particulars;
4. (i) Name of Manufacturer :
5. (ii) SITRA / DRDE Unique Certification Code (UCC)

## (iv) Test Standard

## (iv) Date of Manufacturing / Batch Number

(v) [Order: HLL life care Ltd] if the material is supplied to HLL life care. State Government and other bulk procurement agencies may insist on similar requirement if they desire so. This (v) may not be mandatory for retail orders.

5. M/s HLL Lifecare Limited will devise a sampling plan with regard to the frequency of test sample collection  from  the  lots  which  are  supplied  progressively  by  the  Manufacturer.  The  randomly collected  test  samples  may  be  periodically  sent  to  SITRA  or  DRDE  for  tests,  as  the  case  may  be. Further  action  regarding  acceptance  procedure  etc.  may  be  devised  by  HLL  Lifecare.  Other State/Central Government agencies may also device random sample collection protocol and quality assurance plan. The quality control and assurance plan may be well publicised and informed to all suppliers in writing.

This procedure may be implemented with immediate effect. SITRA/DRDE may generate the Codes on immediate basis for information of the certified Body Coverall manufacturers, and HLL Lifecare.

(Nihar Ranjan Dash) Joint Secretary

Copy for circulation to:

1. South India Textiles Research Association, Coimbatore
2. Director, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior
3. CMD, M/s HLL Lifecare Limited, Camp Office: Delhi and HO: Trivandrum (a copy of the instructions may be furnished to   the Suppliers on which orders for Body Coveralls are placed for necessary compliance)
4. Textiles Commissioner, Mumbai
5. Notice Board: Ministry of textiles official website

Copy for kind information to:

1. Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan,  New Delhi

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