Govt to set new packaging standards for pharma exports

Mumbai, Aug 29 (PTI) The Centre has directed theIndian Institute of Packaging (IIP) to set new packagingstandards for pharmaceutical exports to African and Asiancountries. "As directed by the government, IIP is developingpackaging standards in consultation with leading pharma firmsfor exports to African and Asian countries. The new packagingstandards will be ready by next year," Joint Secretary inDepartment of Commerce, Sudhanshu Pandey told reporters afterinaugurating the workshop on ‘Packaging of Pharmaceutical &Its Safety Aspects" here today. The decision was taken after a big pharmaceuticalorder from India got rejected by Vietnam and product wasrecalled due to packaging issue, Pandey said. "The government will ensure the regulatory body willadhere to the new packaging standards. There can be nocompromise on the regulatory standards, quality parameters,"he said. Packaging sector is one of the booming areas of theIndian economy. There is tremendous growth in Indianpharmaceutical manufacturing, which also cater to therequirements of the global pharmaceutical industry, IIPDirector N C Saha said. IIP is a national apex body under the Ministry ofCommerce and Industry, with the specific objective ofimproving the packaging standards in India. The country’s pharmaceutical sector is the thirdlargest in terms of volume and thirteenth largest in terms ofvalue. India is the largest provider of generic drugsglobally with the Indian generics accounting for 20 per centof the global exports in terms of volume. Domestic pharma industry is expected to grow over 15per cent per annum to outperform the global pharma industry,which is set to grow at an annual rate of 5 per cent, Sahasaid. The market is expected to grow to USD 55 billion by2020, thereby emerging as the sixth largest pharmaceuticalmarket globally by size, Saha added. Indian packaging industry is capable of meeting theglobal expectations. This has been a major factor in thesuccess story of Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers andexporters, despite of having high demanding standards of theimporting countries especially by the developed countries. Intoday’s consumer – driven market, even pharmaceuticalpackaging can influence a customer’s choice, based on itsappearance and attributes, he said. In competitive market, with the continually risingpharmaceutical and healthcare segment in the country, therewill be an enormous demand for packaging materials witheffective functional properties and systems to augment theshelf life, retain efficacy and ascertain the brandrepresentation for various products. This will go a long way in fulfilling the consumer’sexpectation of safety, particularly with the additionalfeatures of tamper evident and anti-counterfeit. (MORE) PTI APSVS NRB ABKBAS