There is currently a lot of information circulating in industry and the media about the Australian Fashion Industry contributing to the medical supply shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like face masks, gowns etc. AFC are here to support our industry. On a daily basis, we are in contact with many of our local manufacturers and supply chain partners, government at all levels and globally renowned consultants. Collaboration is an absolute priority at this time and together we are working to clarify the challenges and support the opportunities to overcome them. Here are some important things to consider, some avenues to explore if you are interested in contributing, and overall updates that will be added to as more opportunities arise…
Below are some important things to consider and avenues to explore if you are interested in contributing to the supply of Australia’s PPE needs. Regulatory information, standards, specifications and more, details below are being updated regularly as more information becomes available.
If you have any information to add, please email us at info@ausfashioncouncil.com - we’d love to hear from you.
The Commonwealth Department of Health, Office of Health Protection (OHP) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have prepared the following information to assist healthcare organisations as they update their operating procedures during the outbreak: www.tga.gov.au
Masks and gowns for use in an Australian hospital setting should be included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Marque Lawyers have put together a very helpful list of regulatory compliance considerations if you are currently, or considering manufacturing PPE or medical scrubs: PPE | Regulatory Compliance
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - Covid-19 Response: Freely Available ISO Standards: www.iso.org
Standards Australia Support: www.standards.org.au
Health Purchasing Victoria: www.hpv.org.au
NSW: tenders.nsw.gov.au
Below we’ve identified some initiatives currently underway and how you can register or express your interest directly.
The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (the Department) is mapping domestic production capability of medical personal protective equipment (PPE). The Department is seeking information on domestic production capabilities relevant to a range of medical PPE, including surgical gowns, gloves, goggles, hand sanitisers, clinical waste bags, waste bag closure devices (ties), blood and fluid spill kits, mask fit test kits and thermometers.
The sole purpose is to obtain information in connection with gaining an understanding of Australian manufacturing of medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), it is not a procurement and does not form part of any Commonwealth procurement process.
This register has been devised to capture expressions of interest from Australian based manufacturers and individuals looking to assist with supply of goods, services or knowledge in tackling the current COVID-19 outbreak in Australia. As the situation develops, there may be a need for the goods you manufacture, the supplies you hold or the skills you have to be called upon.
Developed by the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), the COVID-19 Manufacturer Response Register is brings together manufacturers, suppliers and customers via a self-managed platform.
The NSW Government would like to hear from suppliers that have the capacity to provide critical supplies, raw materials or manufacturing capability to produce critical supplies during the COVID-19 crisis. The Portal will be used to establish a supplier list to connect NSW government agencies and eligible buyers with suppliers capable of providing critical supplies within a range of categories.
Covid-19 Medical Equipment and PPE Supplier Directories
To assist your business in sourcing the supplies it needs, the Victorian Government has developed a series of directories to help identify suitable suppliers of locally manufactured products. The directories cover products which have been more difficult to source during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic due to increases in demand for medical equipment and PPE.
Please also note that in Victoria, manufacturers should be registered on the Ethical Supplier Registry and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia as per the State’s procurement guidelines.
In relation to Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation
For businesses seeking accreditation with Ethical Clothing Australia for their local manufacturing supply chains, we can confirm that the program is still accepting new applications. Businesses should contact ECA’s accreditation advisors Louisa Ramsay or Sheridan Kane directly to understand how the program is operating during COVID-19 and to have any specific queries or questions about timeframes and payments addressed.
ECA Contacts: Louisa Ramsay | louisa@ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au, Sheridan Kane | sheridan@ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au
Register your details below if you’d like to be kept in the loop with AFC updates on this matter, and connected with relevant stakeholders should opportunities become available.
Please email us at info@ausfashioncouncil.com - we’d love to hear from you.
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