Even as the efforts to set up pharmaceutical zones at the main airports could not progress well in all places as planned, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has prepared a plan to set up at least 20 mini labs at sea ports and air ports.

Involving a total cost of Rs. 160 crore, these proposed labs will help ensuring the quality of pharma products being imported and exported by saving much time for the industry players. The target is to set up 20 labs at the port offices under the CDSCO during the next five years, sources said.

According to the plan, an amount of Rs. 8 crore is required for each lab. This includes the costs for civil construction, equipment, reagents, chemicals, and staff, excluding the land costs. The labs will thus come up in all port offices, including seaports, airports and ICDs.

“The aim is to set up 20 labs but it will be as per the approval from the Planning Commission. At least 12 such labs would be feasible in the next few years to improve the logistics for the pharma exporters at the entry and exit points,” a senior official involved with the proposal said.

The CDSCO had a proposal to create full-fledged dedicated pharma zones at the airports and seaports in line with good manufacturing practices and good distribution practices to assure quality, safety and efficacy of drugs meant for export and import. As per the plan, pharma zones were to come up at the airports of Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Besides, another cargo zone was to set up at Nhava Sheva port at Navi Mumbai.

Though the plan could not progress well, the private players came up with some initiatives in this regard. India's first airport-based pharma zone, a dedicated cargo handling zone for pharma products, was set up by the GMR Group and UK-based Menzies Aviation at Hyderabad international airport. It is designed to handle a throughput of 30,000 tonnes annually.