The deadline for registration of applications for the import of drugs and formulations is now extended upto March 31, 2003 by the office of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), it is learnt. The decision was taken by the Union minister for health after a meeting with IDMA representatives three days ago.

IDMA had already represented to the DCGI seeking an extension of the deadline to March 31, 2003 in the wake of considerable time required to clear huge pile up of applications.

As per the notification dated August 24, 2001, all importers of bulk drugs and formulations should have registered with DCGI by December 31,2002 and are required to produce permissions from the DCGI approving the respective foreign manufacturers and import licences in the form 10 of the Drug Rules with effect from January 1, 2003.

Pharmaceutical companies have been finding it difficult to meet the deadline of January 1, 2003 as the office of the DCGI has not been able to clear all the applications on account of shortage of staff and other technical difficulties. Out of the 300 applications submitted to the DCGI office, only about 200 have been cleared so far.

A large number of overseas manufacturers supplying bulk drugs to India for domestic and export production have also not submitted their applications because of the elaborate data requirements. Some of these companies are regular suppliers of essential bulk drugs like amikacin, gentamycin, tobramycin, doxyclycline, oxytetracycline, grisefulvin, frusemide etc. As these drugs are widely used and not manufactured in India, any delay in their import would have caused a shortage of these medicines in the country.