KUALA LUMPUR (July 30): Notion VTec Bhd said today that its wholly-owned subsidiary Notion Venture Sdn Bhd (NVSB) has been registered with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a face mask manufacturer.

Notion VTec, which is already an established hard-disk drive and automotive component manufacturer, said face mask production is part of the group's new business activities in the healthcare industry.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia today, Notion VTec said NVSB has obtained a certificate of registration dated Monday (27 July 2020) from US-based Registrar Corp, certifying NVSB is registered with the US FDA for financial year 2020.

Notion VTec said the certification involves face masks produced by NVSB for general public and healthcare personnel use. Notion VTec said the certification excludes N95 respirators.

"NVSB is also in the midst of submitting the samples of N95 respirator to the approved external laboratory, so that the results could be forwarded to (the US-based) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for approval.

"Should the approval on N95 respirator be obtained from NIOSH, the board (of Notion VTec) is of the view that (the) export of the face masks will be a long-term business of the group.

"The board wishes to further announce that NVSB has also submitted the application for the halal certification to Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) and is currently awaiting the outcome of the application. Upon obtaining the certification from the JAKIM, the company (Notion VTec) will then able to export the face masks to certain Islamic countries," Notion VTec said.

Notion VTec said it will make further announcements whenever there is any material development on its healthcare-related business activities.

Notion VTec views its new business in the healthcare industry as a social responsibility to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

On April 9, 2020, Notion VTec said in a Bursa filing that in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, the company had decided to venture into the production of personal protective equipment and medical ventilator components.

Today, Notion VTec's share price closed up 9.5 sen or 13.19% at 81.5 sen, which values the company at about RM409.81 million.

The stock saw some 143 million shares traded.