NEW DELHI: TheCentre is mulling lifting of export restrictions imposed on 26 pharmaceutical products after drug manufacturers assured of availability of adequate stocks of medicines to cater to local demand at least till May-June.

In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak in China — a major supplier of drug raw material or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) — the Directorate General of Foreign Trade had “restricted” export of 13 specified APIs, and formulations containing these, from India with immediate effect through a notification on March3.

Senior representatives from major pharmaceutical firms along with industry associations had raised concerns about the move. On Monday, at a meeting with the expert panel set up to look into availability of medicines in the wake of the viral outbreak, the industry assured the government of “enough stocks”.

In a written submission reviewed by TOI, the industry said that in case of any unexpected shortage “all production and sale of APIs and formulations will be restricted to domestic consumption”.



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