The Myanmar government has allowed import of oxygen concentrators without the need to apply for Food and Drug Administration endorsements or import licenses, said Aung Naing Oo, union minister for investment and foreign economic relations.

The minister posted such permission on his Facebook page as supplemental oxygen requirement increase in the third wave of the Covid-19 outbreak the country is experiencing.

“Some businessmen I know asked me how they could import oxygen concentrators easily in such a dire need of oxygen as Covid-19 cases spike. So, I would like to inform that relevant ministries have coordinated matters related to easy and prompt import of oxygen concentrators. Importers don’t need to apply for FDA endorsements or import licenses from the ministry of commerce. When the imported things arrive, they don’t need to pay three percent customs duty either. They can be taken out immediately after being recorded at the customs department,” the minister wrote on his Facebook page.  

After Myanmar has seen new Covid-19 variants, oxygen requirement is on the increase.

Oxygen factories in Yangon Region are being crowded with people queuing to fill their cylinders, according to local philanthropic organizations.