More than six million hoarded masks have so far been confiscated since the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Iran, according to the head of Iran Consumer and Producer Protection Organization affiliated with the Industries Ministry.
“The seized masks have been handed to the Health Ministry that has been entrusted with the task of distributing such commodities,” Abbas Tabesh was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Deputy Prosecutor General Saeed Omrani said hoarders and profiteers will face the harshest possible penalties, Mehr News Agency reported.
Spokesman of Market Regulation Headquarters Mohammad Reza Kalami said that at present, the domestic capacity of mask production has been raised to stand at 600,000 per day from the previous 100,000.
“Some 200,000 tons of alcohol are produced in the country daily which, according to the Health Ministry, is sufficient to meet domestic demand,” IRNA quoted the official as saying.
Kalami said that a committee will be formed to supply and distribute masks, disinfectants, antiseptics, sanitizers, alcohol and other commodities used for battling the coronavirus.
In order to regulate the market of abovementioned products, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration banned the export of masks and their raw materials on Feb. 10 and 26 respectively.
“The bans, which were imposed on the order of the Consumer and Producer Protection Organization, will remain in place until further notice,” says IRICA Spokesman Rouhollah Latifi.
As per the latest decision of the Market Regulation Headquarters of Industries Ministry, the import tariff rate of mask has decreased from 55% to 5% to meet the growing demand fueled by the coronavirus outbreak.
The headquarters upheld the ban on export of raw materials needed to produce masks, which is in force since past two months and tasked all factories making sanitizers, disinfectants and cellulose products (such as tissue paper) to operate in three shifts per day.
“Raw materials to make masks are all produced domestically in Iran,” says Kayvan Gardan, an official with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade.
“Producers operating at 20-30% of their capacity have now boosted their output. Health and industries ministries are doing their utmost to resolve problems associated with mask production. Since 10 years ago, the country has become self-sufficient in producing face masks.”
The export of alcohol has also been banned to ensure there will be no shortage in the domestic market amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
"Since there are restrictions on the supply of raw materials needed for the production of disinfectants, the export of alcohol has been prohibited by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade," Mehdi Sadeqi Niyaraki, an Industries Ministry official, was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
