The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued a clarification that the recent price fixation of Salbutamol CFC Free Inhaler (200 meter doses pack) is entirely separate from Salbutamol Inhaler with CFC propellant.

Dispelling the confusion in the drug control authorities and industry that the price of all Salbutamol Inhalers has been revised, the authority informed that the price of Salbutamol Inhalers fixed in 1999 is still valid while separate price has been fixed for Salbutamol CFC Free Inhalers (chloro fluro carbon free propellent).

According to the official clarification, the NPPA has fixed a separate price for Salbutamol CFC Free Inhaler (200 meter doses pack) in June 2007, since the State Drug Controller of Goa has issued manufacturing license for CFC Free Inhalers in the beginning of 2007. The price notified in June for the CFC free inhaler (200 meter doses pack) is Rs 120.74.

Meanwhile, the ceiling price of Salbutamol Inhaler with CFC propellant remains still as Rs 68.50, notified by the authority vides S.O. No.1113 (E) in November 16, 1999. There has not been any revision in the price of Salbutamol Inhalers.

The price fixation of Salbutamol CFC Free Inhaler (200 meter doses pack) has been done in line with the phasing out of CFC gases as per 'the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone layer', of which India is also a signatory, explains NPPA.

'The Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer' is an international agreement designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992. The Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere--chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform--are to be phased out between 2000-05.