Australia Restricts Non-Commercial Exports of PPE, Sanitizer

Australia placed export controls on non-commercial shipments of personal protective equipment, alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer that are essential to combating the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a March 30 notice from the Australian Border Force. The controls, which took effect March 30, also allow Australia’s Home Affairs minister to “determine additional goods” subject to export controls. Australia listed several exemptions to the controls, which allow exports to a person's relatives, for their personal use; exports through humanitarian organizations for non-commercial uses; and exports by an “Australian manufacturer of the goods,” the notice said. The Border Force also listed several other exemptions that allow “legitimate exporters to continue to trade in goods essential to combating the pandemic.”