Harsh provisions of drugs amendment act `08 being diluted to protect original drugs MFRS.: DCGI

Harsh provisions of drugs amendment act `08 being diluted to protect original drugs MFRS.: DCGI
Delhi, November 27, 2009: Dr. Surinder Singh, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday announced that some of stringent provisions in Drugs Amendment Act 2008 are being diluted to ensure that genuine manufacturers of drugs and pharma products are not harassed in court of laws for their alleged involvement in making of spurious drugs.
In his concluding remarks ate to ASSOCHAM organised 7th Knowledge Millennium Summit here today, Dr. Singh said that harsher and stringent provisions earlier incorporated in the proposed amendment Act to punish fake manufacturers of pharma products are being currently scrutinised by Ministry of Law & Justice.
He, however, added that in the proposed Amendment Act, the government is unlikely to empower drug inspectors with authorities to recommend stringent punishment for genuine drugs manufacturers who are falsely ascribed and attributed allegations so that courts do not take strong view against them.
This is being done since Indian pharma industry represented against such stringent punishments proposed in the Drug Amendment Act, arguing that at least genuine manufacturers are not dragged into court of law on grounds of false allegations laid out against them out of vindictiveness, pointed out Dr. Singh.
He said that while the government will take strongest possible view to punish those that indulge in fake drug manufacturing but come out with provisions to protect original manufacturers so that these are not harassed and for that the authoratitive powers would not be conferred upon drug inspectors after the amendment to the Act are notified.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bruce Ross, Country Director of FDA said that domestic manufacturers of drugs and pharma products would have to enhance their quality and standards to continue to export their products in US. We keep strong watch on the CGI and its activities to protect pharma consumers in US as also promote bilateral pharma trade between India and USA.
Among others who spoke on the occasion included ASSOCHAM President Dr. Swati Piramal who said that India would emerge a strong pharma product making country to supply drugs to world consumers at many times cheaper a price with global established standards and benchmarks.