K' Closet Fashion Joint Stock Company produces face masks. Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has approved the export of medical face masks without any caps on export volume. - VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuấn

HÀ NỘI  Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has given the green light to the export of medical face masks without any caps on export volume so that Việt Nam would not miss out on the opportunity of becoming the world’s face mask factory amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government’s Resolution No 60/NQ-CP dated April 29 removed Resolution No 20’s regulation on licences for export of medical face masks. This means medical face masks could be exported without caps on export volume.

Under Resolution 20 dated February 20, medical face masks could only be exported for international aid and assistance provided by the Government with export volume capped at 25 per cent of the producer’s total output.

The Prime Minister also asked the ministry to propose appropriate measures on managing medical face masks based on the development of the pandemic and the domestic demand to ensure adequate supply for the domestic market.

In addition, the ministries of health, and industry and trade must make public the list of face mask producers and their production capacity and export volume.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) must enhance management and inspection to prevent speculation of face masks and raw materials as well as the production of poor-quality products.

Producers must be responsible for their product quality and pledge to supply medical organisations when required.

Customs statistics showed that Việt Nam exported 415.7 million face masks worth US$63.19 million from January 1 to April 19, mainly to Japan, the Republic of Korea, Germany and the US.

According to the MoIT, 50 domestic producers which reported to the ministry alone had a total production capacity of eight million face masks per day. — VNS