The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the norms for Conversion Cost (CC), Packaging Charges (PC), Process Loss (PL) and Packing Material for pharmaceutical manufacturing through two notifications with immediate effect.

The conversion cost for various quantities of plain, coated, dispersible, gelatin coated, sustained release, chewable, effervescent and inlay tablets per 1000 Nos, capsules (per 1000 Nos), liquids (per litre), ointments and creams (per kg.), ampoules (per 100 Nos.), non-sterile dry powder granules and pallets (per kg.) are revised along with other forms of pharma products. Packaging charges are also fixed for various tablet, capsule and sterile liquid formulations.

The process loss of raw materials other than packing materials in conversion for tablets has been revised from 2.30 per cent for plain tablets to 4 per cent for effervescent bigger size and inlay tablets even as the process loss for capsules has been fixed from 2.35 per cent for hard capsules to 3.26 per cent for soft capsules. The process loss for other forms of raw materials includes liquids at two per cent, ointments and creams - 1.91 per cent, ampoules - 10.49 per cent, dry powders - 2.50 per cent, vials - 4.50 per cent, aerosol inhalers - 5 per cent, I V Fluids (BFS) - 12 per cent and I V Fluids and others - 10 per cent. The PL cost for packing materials of all these categories have also specified by the NPPA.

The norms for packing material cost has also been announced in a notification, by fixing/revising for various forms of packing including aluminium strips, poly glassine strip, aluminium - PVC Blister, Alu-Alu blister, Aluminium - PVDC coated PVC film blister, poly glassine - PVC blister and glass bottles etc for tablets, capsules, liquid, oral and suspension formulations.