India to tighten scrutiny on bulk drug imports from China

NEW DELHI: Indian authorities will tighten their vigil on bulk drug imports from China after cancelling registrations from ten Chinese companies last month, the Drugs Controller General India on Friday said.

More registrations from China are under review, Drugs Controller General India Surinder Singh told reporters here on the sidelines of a CII function.

"We have become more stringent. Canceling ten licensces is a big thing. We have cancelled the import registration on the basis of Chinese drug regulator, saying they don't have good manufacturing practice certificate," Singh said.

He said there are almost 350-400 Chinese companies which are registered with the DCGI and the authority will take up investigation whenever there is a suspicion.

"We are trying to cross check wherever there is a suspicion in our mind with the Chinese regulator...We can't review everything (of all the registered Chinese firms). It is going to be a large amount of work," Singh said.

"It's only when something comes to our notice, which is irregular that we cross check with China," he added.

Last month, the drug regulator had cancelled registration of 10 Chinese firms due to lack of the mandatory drug manufacturing standards. Singh said the 10 registration will amount to cancellation of up to 40 import licences.

The drug regulator said it is currently reviewing the existing licences of Chinese firms and will soon start sending drug inspectors to check their authenticity.

Singh also said that the DCGI will start sending drug inspectors with help from the Commerce Ministry to overseas countries as part of the process of reviewing some of its existing licences.

"People will be shortlisted from inspectorate to go overseas for inspection. They will be trained for such operation," he added.

DCGI has 64 drug inspectors at present and it will be increased to 169 by the end of next year, he added.