FAO Mr Jones
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Date:
21st July 2020
Our ref:
RFI – 2493
Your ref:
Dear Mr Jones,
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Your Request for Information concerning PPE from China
I refer to your Freedom of Information Request received on the 23rd June 2020 requesting
information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to PPE from China.
Please see response below you were seeking to the following question(s).
Question Dear Sunderland City Council,
Please provide details of costs associated with:
1. Supply of PPE from China, supplied by China as promoted in press with Cllr Miller.
2. Transport costs associated with bringing this PPE to Sunderland.
3. Storage costs associated with this PPE when in the UK.
4. Has the PPE been 'signed off'/approved for use in the UK?
5. What percentage of the PPE has been used?
6. Who has this PPE been supplied to, so far?
Response
Sunderland and Harbin have had a Friendship Agreement since 2009 which has fostered,
promoted and grown a range of links between the two cities. The links have included not
only education and business contacts, but also a new health partnership with City
Hospitals and public health colleagues which was developed last year.
As COVID was hitting the UK in April, Sunderland City Council received an offer of PPE
from Mr Sun Zhe, the Mayor of Harbin in northern China. This offer was accepted by
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller.
10,000 masks and 400 pairs of goggles were supplied to Sunderland as a donation.
Due to the complexities of the processes involved, and Vantec’s specialist knowledge in
global logistics, from export and import controls to travel and transportation, they agreed to
handle the import of the PPE on behalf of the Council. The PPE was transferred as part of
an airfreight consignment and was transferred to Vantec Europe Limited’s facility at
Hillthorn Business Park in Washington.
The total cost to the Council was £2,152.20 covering freight, airline, customs clearance
and delivery. There are no storage costs to the Council for the PPE.
The PPE was manufactured in China at the Harbin Pharmaceutical Factory. Other
European countries, such as France and Germany have also imported and masks
manufactured in Harbin. Due to the speed at which Harbin Pharmaceutical Factory has
begun to manufacture these products there has not been sufficient time for them to
undergo conformity assessment procedures. There was, however, a temporary relaxation
by the EU of the requirement of the CE mark (Ref 2020/403) and this was followed by the
UK in addition to EU countries
(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_
data/file/879095/Guidance-for-businesses-ppe-regulations-version-2.pdf). Both the masks
and the goggles meet Chinese national standards and requirements: the masks are
categorised as "YY0469-2011 Medical Surgical Masks"; the goggles are categorised as
GB14866-2006. They were also tested by Chinese authorities.
They are suitable as face coverings for day-to-day indoor or outdoor work or wearing on
public transport. 100% of the masks have been allocated/distributed to the following
Sunderland community organisations, who are actively supporting local communities
during the pandemic:
• Sunderland Foodbank Network
• Easington Lane Community Access Point
• Youth Almighty
• Pallion Action Group
• The Box Youth Project
• Back on the Map
• CHANCE
• Young Asian Voices
• Ryhope Community Association
• Blue Watch Youth Centre
• SNCBC
• Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project
• Friends of Fulwell
• Sunderland Community Action Group
The 400 goggles are yet to be allocated/distributed.
I hope this is satisfactory. If, however, you are dissatisfied with our response to your
request for information, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed in reply to this letter,
however any request for review must be submitted within 40 days of the date of this
freedom of information response.
The review will be removed from the Directorate and coordinated by the Council’s team of
Solicitors. A request for review should be directed, by email to
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx by post or by hand addressed to Business
Support, Sunderland City Council, Civic Centre, Burdon Road, Sunderland. SR2 7DN.
If this fails to resolve your concerns, then you have the right to apply to the Information
Commissioner for a decision.
Yours sincerely
Paul Davies
Assistant Director of Business and Property Services
