The Government has tightened the export ban norms on anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine by including special economic zones (SEZs) under its prohibition ambit to ensure there is no shortfall during Covid-19 crisis. US President Donald Trump has said that he has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the amount of Hydroxychloroquine ordered by the US after India last month banned the drugs for exports.
With more than three lakh confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and over 8,000 fatalities, the US has emerged as the worst sufferers of the deadly coronavirus diseases to which there has been no cure.
The drug is also not allowed to be shipped by export oriented units (EOUs) or under any export promotion scheme.
Under advance authorisation (AA) scheme, firms are allowed to import raw material at zero duty but with the condition of export obligation within a certified time frame. SEZs are treated as foreign territory in terms of customs laws.
