Export restrictions for personal protective equipment (PPE)

In its continuing efforts to protect citizens and to coordinate the response to COVID-19, the European Commission has taken immediate steps to protect the availability of supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), by requiring that exports of such equipment outside of the European Union are subject to an export authorisation by the Member States.

Personal Protective Equipment covers equipment such as masks, protective spectacles and visors, face shields, mouth-nose protection and protective garments. There are vital needs for protective equipment within the European Union with regard to hospitals, patients, field workers, civil protection authorities.

The limitation on export of PPE items means that these products can only be sold to countries within the European Union, and the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which two are Fruugo customer countries - Norway & Switzerland. To export PPE products outside of the European Union will require any seller to have been granted export authorisation for these products by their domestic member state' relevant authorities. These restrictions will remain in place until at least 25th April 2020.

Products include and deemed as PPE are as follows:

  • Protective spectacles and visors

  • Face shields

  • Mouth-nose-protection equipment

  • Protective garments

  • Protective medical gloves

To continue selling these items on Fruugo you would need to ensure one of the following conditions applies:

i. You are located outside of the European Customs Union or EFTA countries, and are selling into the EU.
ii. You are located within the European Union but only sell within the European Union & EFTA countries.
iii. You limit the sale of PPE items to European Union & EFTA countries only thus restricting them from export.
iv. You provide Fruugo with a copy of your granted export authorisation for PPE products received from your relevant authority.

For information on country restriction at product level please view the following page: https://fruugo.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/RR/pages/67932122

UPDATE: On 24th April, the EU Commission extended the restrictions for a further 30 days which means the temporary measures will be in place until at least 24th May 2020.