Taiwan places export ban on hand sanitizers, disinfectants

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Taiwan has placed a temporary export ban on 75 percent alcohol hand sanitizers and disinfectants, effective Friday, a day after the temporary ban on face mask exports was extended, according to the Bureau of Foreign Trade.

The decision was made to ensure that demand in Taiwan can be met as shortages of such items as face masks, protective clothing, and alcohol sanitizers continue to plague governments around the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bureau said Friday.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) felt it was necessary to put export restrictions on the two products following a recent evaluation of Taiwan's inventory, a bureau official said, without elaborating.

Starting Friday, people in Taiwan cannot send these items overseas unless they have prior authorization from the MOHW, the official said.

It will also be up to the MOHW to determine when the restriction is to be lifted depending on how the disease progresses in Taiwan. No new COVID-19 cases were reported for a sixth consecutive day on Friday.

On Thursday, the trade bureau announced it was extending a temporary export ban on textile-based masks and those for surgical use that exceed 94 percent filtration efficiency, with the restriction effective from Friday to June 30.
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The restrictions on mask exports had originally been set to expire on April 30.

Source: Focus Taiwan