The Indian government has introduced new testing requirements for the export of cough syrups. Effective from June 1, exporters will need to obtain a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from specified laboratories in order to export cough syrups. The designated laboratories include Indian Pharmacopoeia Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh Commission, CDL Kolkata in West Bengal, CDTL Chennai in Tamil Nadu, CDTL Mumbai in Maharashtra, CDTL Hyderabad in Telangana, RDTL Chandigarh, and RDTL Guwahati in Assam. Additionally, any NABL-accredited state drugs testing laboratory can issue the CoA.
This decision comes in response to reports linking the deaths of children in Gambia and Uzbekistan to syrups manufactured in India. Following these allegations, the Health Ministry initiated an investigation and temporarily suspended the production licenses of the concerned pharmaceutical firms. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) also submitted a proposal to the Union Health Ministry in relation to these allegations.
According to statistics from the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the domestic pharmaceutical market in India was valued at USD 42 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 65 billion by 2024 and is expected to expand further, reaching USD 120-130 billion by 2030. With this exponential growth, India aims to become a reliable provider of high-quality medicines to the global market. The Indian pharmaceutical market encompasses various therapeutic segments, including anti-infectives, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, anti-diabetic, respiratory, dermatological, musculo-skeletal, nervous system, and others. It can also be categorized based on drug types, such as prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs.