CDSCO's zonal-cum-Assistant Drug Controller's (ADC's) office should be located in the premises of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to expedite sampling and testing process of the imported raw materials. This will encourage pharmaceutical industry to make use of Goa's port and airport facilities effectively.  

This demand comes in the wake of long delay in obtaining test results of imported API's and excipient samples, which industry fears is forcing pharma manufacturer's to shy away from utilising the Mormugao Port for export and import activities. It is understood that the samples collected by the ADC's office is forwarded for testing process at any of the seven central drugs testing laboratory located in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Guwahati, Chandigarh and Kasauli.

Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) stressed that the long delay of three to four months in getting the results is making the manufacturers uneasy forcing them to choose a safe bet of opting to import from other ports which though costly are less cumbersome and time saving for robust business. The exporters and importers from Goa today, mainly depend on the Nava Sheva port in Mumbai for most of their business for which they spend almost over Rs. 35,000 on transporting one container of Goa made drugs.

However, Suresh Kamath, president, Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association informed, “Today the industry feels that the loss incurred to the business due to the delay in getting the test results in time is comparatively far more that the reduction in the cost associated with transportation that comes with using MPT. There needs to be more confidence building initiative from the Centre on this front so as to prompt the desired outcome from the industry.”

He further suggested that one way of addressing this issue is by prompting the CDSCO to closely work with the State FDA. Kamath stressed that the Goa state FDA has one of the best drug testing lab that can be out sourced and put into use by the CDSCO to hasten the sampling and testing process without compromising the quality parameters.

In 2011, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved Goa as a recognised port for import and export of drugs under Rule 43 A of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules. This made Goa's Mormugao Port as one amongst the seven notified ports in the country apart from Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kochi, Nhava Sheva and Kandla Ports for the pharma exports and imports.