The online certification project of Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), to issue various certificates for which on-site verification is not need, will be operational within a month.
The project, a part of the FDCA's efforts to implement e-governance in the administration is a first of its kind effort to issue non conventional certificates, performance certificates and Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (COPPs) through online for the pharmaceutical companies with branch in the state, claims the FDCA.
So far, the administration has installed a software for the purpose and has collected almost 80 per cent of product database including information on the major products in the market from the pharmaceutical companies in the state. Primarily, the online registration certificates will be issued for the manufacturers who produce medicines in their own facility. The online certificates for loan licensees will be implemented in a later stage, as the collection of database from the loan licensee manufacturers is yet on process, said H G Koshia, joint commissioner and licensing authority, FDCA.
"We were planning to launch the online certification project from the second week of October. However, there were some technical delays and the launch may be happening within a month. With the project, we would be able to issue certificates which does not require inspection of the facilities by the officials. This will help us to disperse applications within a short time period and the industry to execute their plans promptly," said Koshia.
The database of products and manufacturing units in the state was prepared through an online system in which the individual companies directly could enter the details related to their products and activities. The information collected was then verified by the local FDCA official and was approved by the Commissioner, FDCA.
He added that the database of products and manufacturing units under loan license system will also be ready soon and the entire certification processes will be carried online through the software developed in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The administration is also preparing a vigilance module database including details of raids conducted in the state and the details of actions taken against each company and products. The information will be accessible for officials and authorised persons for further reference, averred Koshia.
As reported earlier, the administration is also planning to launch an online product licensing system in the state. The complete database of product licenses prepared through the programme will be utilised to issue further product licenses to the companies which have a branch in the state, he added.