China loosens coronavirus test kit export requirements

Move comes despite reports of shipments of faulty medical products

20200428 China test kid production AP_20069397041387.jpg

A worker works on the production line of SARS-COV-2 testing kits in a biopharmaceutical company in Nantong city in east China's Jiangsu province on March 9. © AP

SU HUIXIAN, DING JIE, and DAVE YIN, Caixin

China has reversed its decision to tighten export controls on COVID-19 test kits and other medical products, which came after reports that substandard items had been sold in several countries.

Since Sunday, China has no longer required COVID-19 test kits to be registered with and approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) prior to export. Instead, manufacturers only need to obtain overseas approval and submit assurances that the product meets the importing country or region's product standards.

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