The Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared a “pilot” batch of medical equipment to be sent for repairs abroad

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared the first batch of foreign medical equipment to be sent abroad for repairs, reported Interfax with reference to the ministry.

“The Ministry of Industry and Trade has already formed a pilot batch of products for export, currently separate missing documents are expected from companies,” the ministry said.

To export components for repair, the Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested that companies use the withdrawal mechanism, which will allow them to export medical equipment and components for it if there is a service agreement, malfunction reports or service certificates, if the repair has already been carried out on the territory of Russia and it is necessary to export the defective parts. The ministry clarifies that this will allow faster verification of the purpose of the export.

“A company responsible for the repair and maintenance of equipment, for example, a Russian subsidiary of a manufacturer or an official distributor, can initiate obtaining a permit,” the Ministry of Industry and Trade noted.

The ministry also added that confirmation is required from a foreign company that it will not interfere with the return of medical equipment to Russia.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade assured that large foreign companies continue to ship spare parts necessary for Russian medical equipment.

The export of medical equipment was limited by a government decree dated March 9. The Cabinet of Ministers, in order to “ensure stability in the Russian market,” banned the export of vehicles, agricultural machinery and medical equipment to all countries, with the exception of the EAEU, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, without special permits from the relevant ministries.

July 21 Kommersant reportedthat the Association of International Manufacturers of Medical Devices IMEDA turned to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with a request to ease the regime of restrictions on the export of medical equipment. According to the association, otherwise Russian hospitals may face a shortage of medical equipment. First Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Vasily Osmakov later declared Interfax that the ministry is working to exclude medical equipment from the list of products that are prohibited from being exported outside of Russia.