The Centre will no longer direct bulk drug manufacturers to sell bulk drugs to other formulation makers, according to the new Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 2002.
The decision now low lies with the manufacturer of formulations to procure bulk drugs either from indigenous manufacturer or import the bulk drug.
According to sources, the provision which gave the power to the government to direct manufacturers of bulk drugs to sell bulk drugs to other manufacturers of formulations was present in the DPCO, 1995, has been excluded from the new DPCO.
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According to the DPCO, 1995, with a view to achieving adequate production and regulating the equitable distribution, the government could, from time to time, by general or special order, direct any manufacturer of any bulk drug to sell such bulk drugs to other manufacturers of formulations as may be specified in the order.
The new DPCO has also incorporated many more changes. According to the new order, every importer importing a scheduled bulk drug shall furnish to the government a list of scheduled bulk drugs imported by him within thirty days of the commencement of the DPCO and indicate the details of the cost of the each of the bulk drugs.
Thus far, this provision to provide information was confined only to the manufacturer. The importer is also expected to provide the details of the cost of each scheduled bulk drug imported by him, including a bulk duty which has been imported after the commencement of the Order.
The new DPCO has also altered the definition of a bulk drug to specify that it