The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is now gearing up to facilitate and resolve the trade disputes of exporters and importers of pharmaceutical industry from India and abroad respectively.

According to Dr. P V Appaji, director general, Pharmexcil, there have been many instances where the pharmaceutical exporters from India and some of the importers from abroad approach the council for solutions with regard to quality, payments and various other regulatory aspects. In view of this, the council has decided to help exporters and importers by way of alerting them not to fall prey to defaulting companies. “Recently the department of commerce has asked us to take up issues relating to trade disputes between the exporters and importers. Based on the advice of commerce ministry we have decided to facilitate the importers and exporters by way of alerting them and attend their grievances amicably. Our main objective is to see the disputes among the importers and exporters should not damage the image of the pharmaceutical industry in the country,” said Appaji.

However, even earlier, the council used to deal with attending quality related issues, as they affect the image of the country as a whole. But issues relating to trade/payment were dealt by DGFT. But now government has designated Pharmexcil as an agency to take care of such issues. “Based on opinion expressed by member companies, the council has come forward to alert Indian exporters about serious and willful overseas defaulters. Before attending to the issues of the disputing parties we will inform the designated authorities like the commerce ministry, DCGI and department of pharmaceuticals (DoP). If any company is found flouting rules and regulations and deliberately involved in payment or supply delays we will blacklist such companies and display their names on our website,” informed the director general.

As part of this new initiative by the council, any pharmaceutical company can approach and seek assistance for resolving trade disputes with their overseas customers. Similarly, the overseas importers can also approach complaining about Indian companies with regard to quality of products, delays in dispatches, refunds, etc.