Lok Sabha Question No. 2866 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Import of API
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2866 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## IMPORT OF API

## 2866.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has imposed any restriction on import Activated Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) from certain countries;
- (b) if so, the details of the countries on which such restrictions have been imposed and volumes of API that was being imported from them prior to such restriction;
- (c) the details of the quantity and nature of API being exported by India in the last three years;
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to increase the production of API in India to prevent supply shock that was witnessed during the initial period of COVID-19; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a)&(b) :  No country-wise restrictions have been imposed on import of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).

(c):      APIs  such  as  Diloxanide  furoate,  cimetidine,  famotidine,  heterocyclic  compounds,  other antibiotics and erythromycin and its derivatives, together account for approximately 50% share in the total value of India's API exports.

The details of API exports for the last three years are tabled below:

| India's API Exports (in USD Millions)   | India's API Exports (in USD Millions)   | India's API Exports (in USD Millions)   | India's API Exports (in USD Millions)   | India's API Exports (in USD Millions)   |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Category                                | 2018-19                                 | 2019-20                                 | 2020-21                                 | 2021-22(April-Oct 2021)                 |
| API (Bulk Drugs &Drug Intermediates)    | 3895.38                                 | 3867.77                                 | 4405.36                                 | 2469.84                                 |

(d)&(e)  :    To  increase  the  domestic  production  of  Active  Pharmaceutical  Ingredients  (APIs), Intermediates  and  Key  Starting  Materials  (KSMs),  and  also  to  reduce  India's  dependency  on other countries for critical inputs and bulk drugs in the long run, the Government has approved the following schemes :-

- i. Scheme  on  Promotion  of  Bulk  Drug  Parks  for  financing  Common  Infrastructure Facilities in 3 Bulk Drug Parks with financial implication of Rs. 3,000 crores for next five years;
- ii. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical  KSMs/Drug  Intermediates  and  APIs  and  for  domestic  manufacturing  of pharmaceuticals.

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