'No more delay for new drug export licences'

Pharma exporters will get licences for new drugs as soon as they submit a 'no objection certificate' from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Ranga Rao, director of drug control administration, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said at the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Export Promotion Council for Drugs & Pharmaceuticals (Pharmexcil), here on Saturday.

Senior officials from the ministry of commerce, the director-general of foreign trade office, the drug controller office and the customs and central excise department participated in this seminar on export promotion scheme and related issues.

Vijaya Kapoor, from the ministry of commerce, made a detailed presentation on market development assistance (MDA) and market access initiatives (MAI) of the ministry.

Kapoor added that the ministry would hold a meeting on September 20 to consider its plea for the extension of MDA/MAI schemes to Pharmexcil members as well.

Thomas Mathews of Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) said that at present ECGC provides insurance cover as per the choice of the exporters. For certain schemes, free marine insurance coverage is also available, he added.

S K Bhattacharya, joint director-general of foreign trade, Hyderabad, said that for the first time the concept of 'preamble' was incorporated in the Exim policy which was signed by the minister for finance.

Venkat Jasti, vice-chairman of Pharmexcil, said that Pharmexcil would organise interactive meetings with each department separately in the future, to effectively deal with their respective issues.

He also thanked the Andhra Pradesh government for giving Rs 3 crore towards creation of a corpus fund for the council and facilitating the headquarters in Hyderabad.

Ramakrishna Rao, superintendent of customs and central excise, and Vijaya Krishna Reddy, manager of Exim Bank, also spoke at the meet.