Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) has made a submission to the finance ministry that rules pertaining to issue of license, record keeping for licensed dealer and licensed chemist of Essential Narcotic Drugs (ENDs) should be made uniform across the country.
ENDs need to also be properly defined in Rule 52-B of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Third Amendment Rules towards its distribution and availability.
Subsequent to the NDPS (Third Amendment Rules) 2015, in May 2015, availability of ENDs continued to be a problem, as various state governments were ignorant of the Third Amendment and were refusing to comply with the new provisions of the Gazetted notification. After persistent follow up, the department of revenue issued a directive to all the state governments in August 2016.
IDMA was actively involved in the amendment of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (RCS) order 2013, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Second Amendment) Rules and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Third Amendment) Rules notified in March 2013, in undertaking manufacture and trade of Narcotic, Psychotropic and Controlled substances. Hence, a comprehensive submission to further rationalise and simplify the above rules was submitted to the Joint Secretary (Revenue) and Director (Narcotics Control).
Several circulars were sent to members between May and September, 2015, sensitising all manufacturer members of psychotropic substances to register online with Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) and file quarterly returns. IDMA followed up with CBM regarding the resolution of technical glitches in the Online registration and filing of quarterly returns platform.
A representation was made to Narcotics Commissioner, CBN in June 2015. Subsequently joint interactive seminars were held by CBN and IDMA in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad in September and October 2015.
Several representations were sent to CBN and Department of Revenue (DoR) regarding the difficulties faced by members. IDMA also sent circulars regularly to members seeking their feedback on technical glitches. The feedback was positive and most of the technical glitches were addressed by CBN.