The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) has reiterated that it did take up with the concerned authorities the matter of drug import through the ICDs of Delhi and other places, and clarified that there was no 'ban' on the import as perceived by some quarters, but the clearance of consignments at these ICDs was not being allowed following some complaint.

Reacting to a news item in Pharmabiz (dated May 23) over the statement by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers B K Handique, Pharmexcil executive director Dr P V Appaji said the question posed in the Parliament was "whether the export of drugs have been affected due to ban on clearance of import of drugs and drug intermediates under advance licences."

"There is no ban like that. So, we gave advice to the Government that we are not aware of such a ban. These ICDs were not included in the list of ports of entry as per the customs notification in January, following some complaint received by the DCGI. We have taken up the matter with the government about the difficulties faced by the exporters in the wake of this," Dr Appaji explained.
As reported by Pharmabiz earlier, the Pharmexcil had written to the Central Board of Excise and Customs about the difficulties though it had received only a few complaints from the drug importers. The Pharmexcil also maintained that the quality of drugs being exported must be ensured at the same time, so that the image of the industry is safeguarded outside the country.

Dr Appaji said, the apex body had been always taking up issues concerning the drug exporters and would do the same in future too. As the specific question in the Parliament was precisely on a non-existing 'ban', it did give a correct input to the Ministry.