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Govt discusses challenges faced by exporters during import, export clearance of temperature sensitive consignments
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
October 22 , 2025
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A committee, constituted by the Central government, is in talks with the pharma exporters related to challenges faced by the companies during import/export clearance of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products consignments.
The objective of the Committee is to identify appropriate solutions and facilitate faster and more efficient clearance of such consignments, which are of critical importance to the pharmaceutical industry. The Committee will also examine and recommend infrastructure and process improvements for the import and export clearance.
The Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGI) and the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) are representing the industry and are also holding discussions to seek issues, suggestions, or inputs from the stakeholders.
Pharmexcil has urged its member exporters to share any input related to challenges faced during import/export clearance of temperature sensitive consignments, infrastructure or procedural gaps at ports/airports, recommendations for improving efficiency, transparency, or timelines and any other relevant feedback or proposals.
DGGI is an apex law enforcement agency under the ministry of finance responsible for fighting tax evasion in India. It was founded in 1979 as the Directorate General of Anti-Evasion and was later renamed the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGGI).
Import and export clearance of temperature-sensitive cargo involves navigating complex logistics, strict regulatory compliance, and high risks of spoilage, which can cause significant financial losses. A break in the cold chain, maintaining a consistent temperature range, can render sensitive products like pharmaceuticals and food ineffective or unsafe.
Customs authorities may require detailed records to prove that temperature integrity was maintained throughout the journey. Without readily available data logs, delays are likely to happen. Paperwork errors, miscommunication between stakeholders, and customs procedures can also delay shipment schedules.
Some ports or border crossings may lack adequate cold storage facilities to hold cargo during an extended inspection and exposing the goods to uncontrolled ambient temperatures.
Different nations have widely varying standards for importing pharmaceuticals. Staying up-to-date and compliant with each country's specific rules is a major challenge.
The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries must follow stringent Good Distribution Practices (GDP) rules, which mandate that medication storage and transport conditions are documented and verified. Infrastructure gaps and logistical breakdowns are frequent causes of cold chain failure. Lack of specialized, temperature-controlled storage facilities at transit points, especially in emerging markets, puts cargo at risk during layovers.
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