A large number of drug manufacturers have been hit badly with the Centre withdrawing permission to import of drugs under chemical or generic name through Inland Container Depots of Delhi and some other places.

With the Centre removing the ICDs at Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad from the list of places in respect of drugs being imported by sea into the country, large quantities of drug materials are still held up in these depots for clearance.

According to a notification issued by the Centre recently, Chennai, Kolkota, Mumbai, Cochin, Nhava Sheva and Kandla would be the only seaports to import drug materials.

``We import materials by air only in emergencies as it is costly. Suddenly the Government has withdrawn the facility available in places like Delhi without specifying any reasons. It is going to affect not just the small players but the big players too,'' said an industry spokesman reacting to the development.

It is viewed that the lack of manpower in the CDSCO, which is responsible for monitoring the quality of medicines imported under Rule 43 of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, has led to the cancellation of permissions. It is also learnt that the Ministry of Health has informed the unavailability of enough personnel to be posted in the ICDs along with the seaports and airports.

As per the customs instruction, Chennai, Kolkota, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad will remain as entry points for drugs imported by air, along with a few other places like Amritsar, Ranaghat, Bongaon, Mohiassan and Raxul railways stations for drugs by rail across the frontiers of neighbouring countries.

The manufacturers in Delhi and neighbouring places have been depending on ICDs at Thuglakabad and Patparganj for importing bulk materials as import by air was not at viable.

The aggrieved industry has called upon reopening the facilities and the industry associations are in touch with the Government authorities to press the demand.