The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), a national apex body, is reportedly developing new packaging specifications for pharmaceutical products being exported to African and Asian countries.
The development of new specification, as directed by the Indian Government, follows the rejection of a major pharmaceutical order from India by Vietnam.
Following the rejection, products were recalled due to a packaging issue.
India's Department of Commerce joint secretary Sudhanshu Pandey was quoted by PTI as saying: "As directed by the government, IIP is developing packaging standards in consultation with leading pharma firms for exports to African and Asian countries.
“The new packaging standards will be ready by next year.
"The government will ensure the regulatory body will adhere to the new packaging standards. There can be no compromise on the regulatory standards, quality parameters."
Due to lack of regulations and quality standards, several of other Indian pharmaceutical products have also faced rejection from such markets earlier.
IIP director N C Saha said that the country’s pharmaceutical market is expected to increase to $55bn by 2020.
Saha was quoted by The Hindu as saying: “We are concerned about the rejection rates in unregulated and semi-regulated markets.”
IIP, in consultation with pharma industry, will develop recommendations and quality standards by IIP in order to help avoid product recalls on certain grounds.
The government will then finalize the packaging standards, which will be made mandatory for the pharma companies to export the products.
