China Pharmaceutical Industry Association (CPIA), the apex body representing major companies in China, will assist Indian manufacturers in getting their products registered with the Chinese regulatory authority, as per the new draft proposal made by the association and IDMA during the former delegation's recent visit here.
As a gesture of friendly cooperation a 13-member delegation representing CPIA paid a visit to the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) office on 30th October 2003.
D B Mody, Chairman, International Trade Sub-Committee and Dara B Patel, Secretary-General, IDMA handed over a draft copy of the Agreement of Cooperation between CPIA and IDMA to CPIA and requested them to go through it and revert. If all the points in the Agreement were agreeable mutually, then the same could be signed at a later date.
Established in 1988, CPIA has a total membership of 326 companies today which control about 75 per cent of the Chinese market. It has 13 sub-committees and is a member of the Medicinal Asian Federation, informed Li Shun Nian, President, CPIA.
Seeking cooperation from Indian industrialists, Li Shun said CPIA maintains good business relations with the pharma industries in Japan, South Korea, etc. The team members also expressed their interest in visiting plants of IDMA member companies.
D B Mody welcomed the delegation and presented copies of the Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and IDMA publications.
Mody said that IDMA desires to work closely with CPIA and reach a mutual agreement beneficial to each other. He also stated that there were no restrictions on imports in India and the Exim Policy was quite liberal.
India exports to countries like USA, UK, South Africa, etc. and also imports certain raw materials from China. According to Makwana of EXIM Bank India's exports to China, as on date is about US$ 90 million. He stated that EXIM Bank was always keen to support joint ventures of Indian companies in other countries.
Apart from Li Shun Nian, the delegation comprised of Zhu Fuijiang - Vice President, CPIA Shen Xian Ji - Secretary General, CPIA, Zhua Yan - Vice Secretary General, CPIA, Tian Fangming - Translator, Liu Yougao - President, Beijing Shuguang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Li Li Qun - General Manager, Tianjin Tianfa Pharmaceuticals Imp. & Exp. Corp., Mu Yuan Ping - Vice General Manager, Tianjin Tianfa Pharmaceuticals Imp. & Exp. Corp., Zan An Sheng - President, Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., Yuan Shu Jie - Director, Technology Dept. of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd., Zhu Yu Hua - Vice General Manager, New Asiatic Pharmaceuticals Company, Bao Bingzhang - President, Sino American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceutical Ltd.
IDMA represents more than 500 large, medium and small companies spread over the country which are engaged in producing and supplying bulk actives and formulations.
In their effort to have better understanding of the Indian pharmaceutical scenario, the delegation put forth the following queries:
-- Which are the major commercial manufacturers in India?
-- Which are the top 25 Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers?
-- Which Government functions/tasks have been entrus-ted to IDMA?
-- Which are the major Indian R&D organizations, their main focus, etc.?
-- What is the percentage of R&D expenditure with regards to drugs?
-- What is the present status of the MNCs in the Industry?
-- Whether CPIA is allowed to directly contact IDMA for any queries/issues?
-- The integration/acquisition of the Government of India?
Responding to the request made by CPIA, IDMA members sought for details on the following:
-- What are the registration provisions of Chinese Regulatory Authorities and the cost/time required for registration?
-- Whether the idea of having an India-China Drug Manufacturers Association was feasible, to arrive at a mutual consensus with regards to
various issues?
-- Why does one have to go through Clinical Trials for products to be introduced in China?
-- Whether registration procedures can be undertaken even during the Patent regime?
-- Whether there was any consulting firm in China, which could be approached with regards to matters of registration?