India tightens import rules as IRGMA uncovers medical glove scam

Bharat is gearing up to take strong action against the illegal import of banned medical gloves following a major expose by the IRGMA).

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Medical Gloves (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (QCO) has been submitted by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to the WTO to safeguard India's healthcare and manufacturing industry. Once enforced, the QCO will mandate BIS certification for all medical and surgical gloves, bringing much-needed quality assurance and regulatory oversight to a market that has been flooded with substandard and illegally imported gloves from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.

Low-quality Non-medical Gloves:

The announcement comes at a critical juncture, as the Indian Rubber Gloves Manufacturers Association (IRGMA) has uncovered a massive import scam where unscrupulous importers are stockpiling low-quality non-medical gloves before the QCO takes effect, repackaging them as medical gloves, and dumping them into hospitals and clinics. This dangerous practice is compromising patient safety, undermining India's Make in India initiative and destabilizing the domestic industry.

Stockpiling Before QCO & China's Trade Dumping Tactics:

• Exploitative Import Practices: Importers are hoarding bulk shipments of non-medical gloves in anticipation of the QCO implementation, with plans to repackage and mislabel them as medical gloves once stricter BIS certification becomes mandatory.