New Delhi: The Government removed customs duty and health cess on ventilators, Covid- 19 testing kits and other medical supplies on Thursday to increase domestic availability of these products to fight the Covid- 19 pandemic till September. With the removal of the duty and cess, prices of these products that include personal protection equipment and face and surgical masks would also come down.

The Department of Revenue on Thursday in a statement said that “In the context of COVID-19 situation, considering the immediate requirement of ventilators and other items, the central government has granted exemption from basic customs duty and health cess, on the import of these goods, with immediate effect”. These exemptions will also be applicable on inputs used to manufacture these items. “This basic customs duty exemption shall be available up to the September 30 this year,” it said.

Currently, there is a 10 per cent duty on ventilators, and test kits; and 7.5 per cent on face and surgical masks. It ranges from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent on PPE. Health cess is flat 5 per cent on all these goods.