Sourcing Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) from China
Practical Tips for International Buyers
The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is driving global demand for Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”). China is one of the world’s largest producers of PPE. Many governments and private sector distributors currently seek to establish reliable supply chains to source PPE in China in order to lessen the impact of this outbreak in their countries. We can expect global demand for PPE to remain relatively high over the mid-long term, given that many governments are starting to realize that thorough preparation in advance and decisive action are the keys to properly respond to this kind of crisis in the future. This might lead many government as well as private health care providers and hospital systems to develop pandemic preparedness plans which may include among other steps, building emergency PPE stockpiles and building secure, sustainable procurement supply chains. In some countries government efforts and private sector efforts might both be needed to fill the void.
After numerous incidents involving substandard PPE being received by Spain, Netherlands, Turkey and other governments, the Chinese government moved to further regulate the manufacturing and export of PPE. In China PPE’s are classified into the following seven categories:
Coronavirus Testing Kits;
Medical Protective Outfits;
Ventilators;
Medical Protective Masks;
Surgical Masks;
Disposable Medical Masks; and
Infrared Thermometers.
International buyers of PPE from China must ensure they are familiar with applicable Chinese regulations to insure they are buying product which is lawfully approved for export from a properly approved manufacturer. We have prepared this memo to provide a general understanding for international buyers to procure PPE from China, which includes the following three sections:
Practical Tips for International Buyers of PPE;
General Steps to Procure PPE from China; and
How Can Pamir Support International PPE Buyers in China
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Contributing Advisors
