India's API export restrictions are temporary only, official says
India's curb on the export of 26 APIs in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak reverberated in March 2020 through the drug manufacturing sector, but the government insists that this is a temporary measure as the government takes its needs into account.
On 4 March 2020, state minister for chemicals and fertilizer Mansukh Mandaviya said the move was taken to ensure that there are no shortages of medication for India. Mansukh added that the strategy should be short-lived, while a task force that he leads plans to reduce India's dependence on China's APIs. It's not a permanent move and it's being regularly checked, "Mandaviya said. It's been done to ensure there's no shortage of coronavirus medicines in the nation.
India this week stopped exports of the 26 APIs and drugs ranging from paracetamol – the ingredient in Tylenol – to treat antiviral such as acyclovir and antibiotic neomycin.
India provides the United States with around 40% of generics. The FDA is investigating into the situation. The Globe and Mail notes that the actions of India will most likely impact countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
That hasn't stopped any pressing the panic button in Europe, Dinesh Dua, chairman of India's Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), told Reuters. He said that some of the limited APIs and drugs have been commonly used in the USA and Europe.
Dinesh added that I receive a large number of calls from Europe although I rely heavily on Indian formulations and that we control nearly 26% of European formulations in the generic space.
Moreover, Adrian van den Hoven, managing director of Medicines for Europe, a group of EU generic and biosimilar drug manufacturers, said that EU drug manufacturers have ample supplies to last several months and that India's restrictions are unlikely to affect large volumes in Europe.
