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DCGI extends deadline till October 31, 2021 for allowing import of drugs with residual shelf life less than 60%
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
April 19 , 2021
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The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has extended the deadline till October 31, 2021 for allowing import of drugs with residual shelf life less than 60 per cent.
This has been done because Covid-19 pandemic situation has led to disruption in freight movement causing delays in delivery of imported drugs. Drugs are also losing their shelf life stuck at the ports due to shortage of manpower and the lockdown situation in parts of the country.
This is in continuation to the circulars issued on April 17, 2020, July 10, 2020 and December 18, 2020.
It had earlier extended the deadline till April 30, 2021 for allowing import of drugs with residual shelf life less than 60 per cent following representations from importers on delay in clearances at port offices in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
CDSCO had granted importers permission to import medicines having residual shelf life under 60 per cent on the condition that they give an undertaking that the drug would be consumed before the expiry date in the light of the pandemic situation.
As per Rule 31 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, no drug shall be imported unless it complies with the standard of strength, quality and purity, provided that the licensing authority shall not allow the import of a drug with a less than 60 per cent residual shelf life as on the date of import.
However, in exceptional cases, the licensing authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, allow the import of any drug with a lesser shelf life, but before its expiry.
The DCGI move came after industry associations made several representations that clearance of drug consignments at port offices has taken a hit due to Covid-19 outbreak.
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