Indian Rubber Gloves Manufacturers Raise Alarm Over Chinese Imports

HYDERABAD: The Indian Rubber Gloves Manufacturers Association (IRGMA) has brought to light a concerning trend of stockpiling low-quality non-medical gloves from China, ahead of the implementation of the Medical and Surgical Gloves (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (QCO). This move is seen as an attempt to circumvent the upcoming quality regulations.

The QCO aims to regulate the import of gloves worth ₹600-700 crore, ensuring only BIS-certified gloves are sold for medical use in India. This includes disposable surgical gloves, single-use medical examination gloves, and post-mortem rubber gloves, aiming to prevent the bulk import of substandard gloves.

Threat to Public Health and Domestic Industry

IRGMA has voiced concerns over the repackaging of non-medical gloves as medical gloves, a practice that compromises patient safety and undermines India’s 'Make in India' initiative. The association alleges that unscrupulous importers are hoarding bulk shipments of non-medical gloves, planning to mislabel them as medical gloves post-QCO implementation.

With US tariffs restricting Chinese glove exports, Chinese manufacturers are reportedly rerouting their excess stock through Malaysia and Thailand. These gloves are then sent to India at artificially low prices, evading regulatory scrutiny and endangering India’s healthcare supply chain.

Call for Immediate Government Action

IRGMA spokesperson Vikas Anand described this as an orchestrated effort to flood India’s market with substandard gloves before the QCO takes effect. He emphasized the need for immediate government intervention to prevent a national health crisis. Konda Anindith Reddy, managing director of Hyderabad-based Wadi Surgicals, also highlighted the importance of the QCO in protecting healthcare workers and patients, urging regulatory agencies to curb illegal imports promptly.

This unfair market manipulation not only endangers public health but also threatens India’s self-reliance in medical manufacturing, pushing domestic manufacturers out of competition with illegally imported gloves sold at artificially low prices.