Reference
is invited to Press Release dated 15th May, 2021 vide
Release ID: 1718815 by Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the above-mentioned
subject (copy enclosed).
2. In
view of the COVID pandemic, vide said Press Release, it is stated that, by way of
an exemption, PESO shall not carry out physical inspection of global manufacturers’
production facilities before grant of required approval for import of cylinders
and pressure vessels for storage and transportation of medical oxygen. Now, PESO
shall grant such approvals online without any delay on submission of manufacturer’s
particulars; ISO certificate of manufacturer; List of Cylinders their specifications,
drawings & batch number; Hydro test certificate and Third-Party inspection Certificate.
Every foreign manufacturer/importer who wants to import oxygen cylinders is required
to apply for import permission through PESO online system.
3. In
this regard, DPIIT has further clarified as follows:
A. In
case the importer has applied through online application to PESO and the decision
is pending in PESO, the exemption allows them to bring oxygen cylinders on urgency
for COVID relief activities in India.
B. In
case the importer has not applied through online application to PESO. the exemption allows them to bring cylinders for urgent use for
enhancing oxygen distribution logistics in India.
C. It
is the responsibility of the consignee to follow the procedure as per relaxed conditions
given in the table of para 3 of the Press Release, prior to the filling of the medical
oxygen in these cylinders at refillers/ filling plants.
D. In
view of the above, Customs is requested to give necessary clearances without PESO
approvals for such items received at the ports/ airports for COVID relief works.
4. It
is requested that the officers under your jurisdiction are sensitised
about the above changes and ensure that customs clearance of such imports are expedited
on arrival.
5. The
difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.
Enel: as above
F. No. 450/117/2021-CusIV(Pt)
Relaxations provided under Gas Cylinders
Rules, 2016,so as to fast track approvals for imported
cylinders and pressure vessels for storage and transportation of medical oxygen
Posted
On: 15 MAY 2021 5:07PM by PIB Delhi
Government
of India has reviewed the existing procedure for approval of global manufacturers
for importing oxygen cylinders by Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO).
In view of the COVID pandemic, PESO shall not carry out physical inspection of global
manufacturers' production facilities before grant of such approval. Now, such approvals
shall be granted online without any delay on submission of manufacturer’s particulars;
ISO certificate of manufacturer; List of Cylinders their specifications, drawings
& batch number; Hydro test certificate and Third-Party inspection Certificate.
Every foreign manufacturer/importer who wants to import oxygen cylinders is required
to apply for import permission through PESO online system.
In
view of emergent situation, procedures are relaxed and the following process is
to be followed wherever due to unavoidable circumstances or urgencies, consignment
of oxygen cylinders, ISO containers or PSA plants or its related equipment have
already arrived in India, without taking import permission from PESO. The filling
permission for these cylinders will be issued based on the following relaxation
in the rules. Same procedure will apply for import of further such equipment in
case the online approvals have not been taken.
As such, Certification
of PESO will not be mandatory pre-shipment. However, the certification of PESO will
be required before use of the oxygen cylinders which entails weight and hydro testing.
The Indian Missions should however ensure that the oxygen cylinders should comply
with India or International standards before shipment. In case of filled cylinders,
the agency exporting to India shall certify that the oxygen filled in the cylinder
is of such purity and concentration that is fit for medical use. The certification
shall be attested by the Indian Mission in the exporting country. Further, soon
upon receipt in India, such filled cylinders shall be inspected on sample basis
by an empanelled agency of PESO and certified as fit for
medical use.
|
Sr
No |
Description |
Requirement
of Rules |
Acceptability
criteria |
Relaxation |
Criteria
not exempted |
|
1 |
Design
approval prior to import of oxygen cylinders |
Rule
3(3) of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 |
ISO
9809 Part I & II IS
7285 with TPIA appraisal |
Cylinders
manufactured with any international code without TPIA appraisal |
1.
Conformity of weight reduction not more
than 5% of tare weight. 2.
Shall pass hydro static test at a pressure
of 225 Kg/Cm2 for 30 seconds |
|
2 |
Import
permission |
Rule
50, 51 & 54 of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 |
Manufacturer’s
test and inspection report & fee |
Manufacturer’s
test and inspection report not required. Fee waived off. |
|
|
3 |
Recognition
of Original Equipment Manufacturer with 10 years experience |
Rule
3(3) of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 |
Prototype
joint inspection of manufacturing and quality control with TPIA and site assessment |
Exempted |
|
|
4 |
Filling
permission |
Rule
43 & 45 of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 |
Examination
& test as per Rule 35 |
Exempted
except the test prescribed in next column. |
|
|
5 |
PSA
installations and other COVID centres installations
with cylinder filling facilities |
Rule
50, 51 & 54 of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 |
Fulfill
the requirement of E & F licenses |
Exempted
to obtain E&F license |
Moderate
guidelines prepared by PESO to be followed. |
All
the filled cylinders must be verified for quality of gas filled therein under the
supervision of medical/ Food and Drugs Controllers and if quality of gas conforms
to their requirement of medical oxygen, cylinder may be sent directly to hospitals
for use. On emptying out the oxygen, cylinder shall be sent to filler and the process
as given above shall be followed.
Guidelines
for PSA installations at hospitals with filling facility or at COVID centers:
A.
PSA plants where generated oxygen is directly
supplied to hospital/ no filling of cylinder is taking place; does not need any
permission or license under rules administered by PESO and can be allowed.
B.
If PSA is attached with a compressor and
filling of oxygen cylinder is to take place, hospital must notify it to PESO with
following information:
a.
Number of filling points.
b.
Number of cylinders to be stored at site
c.
An SRV shall be mandatorily installed in
the pipeline outlet to compressor.
d.
Well ventilated location with adequate illumination.
e.
Before filling the cylinder, shall be examined/
cleaned for absence of any Carbonaceous grease and valid hydro test certificate
(tested cylinder at 225 Kg/Cm2 hydrostatically)
f.
Filling operation shall be carried out under
supervision of a competent & experienced person.
g.
The space for filling of cylinders to be
isolated and maintain clearance of 1m from filling point on all the sides.
C.
Any COVID centre
may utilize liquid cylinders on board with vaporizer for supplying of gaseous medical
oxygen through pipeline or for filling cylinders in open places are permitted subject
to conditions stipulated under Sr No. (B) above for PSA and information be submitted to PESO.
These
relaxations shall be valid for a period of 6 months or till further orders of Department
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, whichever is earlier.