Govt may abolish import duty on ventilators, masks

NEW DELHI: The government may do away with import duty on various medical devices and gear, including ventilators, protective masks and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as part of its fight against coronavirus.

There have been recommendations from ministries to also remove Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) on these items, and a final call on this will have to be taken by the GST Council.

A proposal to do away with customs duty and IGST on around 15 product categories is being considered by the revenue department, officials told TOI. Apart from the devices and other products needed by the medical staff, some raw material used for making masks and parts of garments and accessories are also on the wishlist that has been moved by the commerce department.


In recent days as the number of patients has gone up, so has the requirement in Indian hospitals and domestic production of these items is seen to be insufficient. It has also led to a spike in prices of key products that are needed, with some of the manufacturers seeking to take advantage of the spike in demand. The commerce department has argued that an elimination of customs duty will help keep prices of these essential items under check.

The list may be expanded as the health ministry and the department of pharmaceuticals have recommended certain items that are required in the battle against the deadly virus. The idea is to eliminate basic customs duty and IGST on these products for three-to-six months and once normalcy is restored, duties can be reimposed.