Blanket ban on export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, government withdraws exemptions

NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday imposed a blanket ban on the export anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and its formulations, days after it culled out exceptions for some categories.

“The export of hydroxychloroquine and formulations made from hydroxychloroquine, therefore, shall remain prohibited, without any exception,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

DGFT had on March 25, allowed on humanitarian grounds on a case-to-case basis on the Ministry of External Affairs' recommendation, from special economic zones/export oriented units and in cases where the outbound shipment is made to fulfil export obligation under any advance authorisation license issued on or before that date.


However, the directorate amended the policy on Saturday and withdrew these exemptions, saying that the export of Hydroxychloroquine and formulations made from Hydroxychloroquine is no longer allowed from SEZs/EOUs or against Advance Authorisation or against full advance payment.