The decline in the number of Covid-19 cases in India has prompted the government to remove export restrictions on all diagnostic kits and reagents used to detect Covid-19 infections.

The export policy of all diagnostic kits and reagents (including instruments /apparatus) ... is being made free with immediate effect," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

The DGFT is the nodal arm of the commerce ministry that deals with export and import related norms.

The export restrictions on these products were imposed in June 2020 and August 16, 2021, on account of spikes in Covid-19 cases.

Diagnostic kits and reagents include RT-PCR kits and reagents, RNA extraction kits and reagents, synthetic fibre swabs, Proteinase K, magnetic stand, beads, and Covid-19 rapid antigen testing kits.

Further, in another notification, the directorate removed a ban on exports of the melt-blown fabric of any GSM, used in air filtration equipment, mask materials and liquid filtering materials.

"The melt-blown fabric of any GSM has been made freely exportable with immediate effect," it said.