The Indian Rubber Gloves Manufacturers Association (IRGMA) has urged the the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to ban the import of chlorinated gloves.

"IRGMA has also notified the Customs (Imports) Department of the violation of bio-waste disposal rules by importers especially of the phased out chlorinated gloves, and non-compliance of gloves manufacturers sending chlorinated gloves to India, some making way into India spuriously", said IRGMA in a media release.

"We seek the use of only BIS approved gloves through GEM, for Government Hospitals, conforming to the consideration and implementation of QCO (Quality Control Order) aligned with MDR 2017 Compliance of CDSCO Gazette Notification which was to come into effect from Oct 2, 2022", the release claimed.

According to IRGMA, the Central Pollution Control Board had issued a letter to phase out the use of chlorinated gloves by 27th March 2019; the West Bengal State Pollution Control Board has issued directives to ban the use of chlorinated gloves and the CPCB has issued directive not to allow imports in violation of guidelines that ban chlorinated gloves.

IRGMA has claimed that in a communication with the Malaysian Rubber Council, it has specified that chlorinated gloves of all kinds are not allowed by the Indian authorities owing to violation of the guidelines.

"The continuation of spurious import of examination gloves has serious safety and health risks. Many countries (US and Europe) have already banned the use of powdered, coated Nitrile Gloves, in their respective countries", said IRGMA.

It added, "The procurement of BIS Approved Gloves is very convenient because there are already many BIS certified companies manufacturing the gloves, and these companies are capable of supplying the quality product to the Hospital Staff".

Sunil Patwari, President, IRGMA said, "It is time that these spurious imports and usage of chlorinated gloves be curbed as it is detrimental to the health of both the healthcare providers and the patients, and for their safety the Government and the authorities must make firm implementations that impede the spurious circulation and import of chlorinated gloves".

Konda Anindith Reddy, Managing Director, Wadi Surgicals Enliva Gloves added, "We need to ensure that we are providing the right quality gloves to the medical practitioners. This kind of trust will come only if there is a stringent regulation on the spurious circulation and import of chlorinated gloves".