Govt frees exports of all APIs, formulations except paracetamol

News:Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) removed the export restrictions on 24 active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and formulations. These include Vitamins B6, B1, B12, Neomycin, Erythromycin among others. 

Facts:

• Background: Amid COVID-19 pandemic, the government had earlier restricted exports of 26 bulk drugs and their formulations to curb shortages in India. 

Additional Facts:

Directorate General of Foreign Trade

• It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is headed by the Director -General of Foreign Trade.
• It is responsible for implementing the Foreign Trade Policy with the main objective of promoting India’s exports.

Bulk Drugs:  The active chemical substances in powder form, the main ingredient in pharmaceuticals – chemicals having therapeutic value, used for the production of pharmaceutical formulations.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API): It is the part of any drug that produces the intended effects