Govt Lifts Curbs on Exports of Medicines Made From Paracetamol

However, restrictions on exports of Paracetamol active pharmaceutical ingredients will continue.

Paracetamol is a commonly used painkiller.

(Photo: iStock)

The government on Friday, 17 April removed restrictions on exports of medicines made from Paracetamol amid the outbreak of COVID-19.

However, restrictions on exports of Paracetamol active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs or raw materials) will continue, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

To export a product, which is under restricted category, an exporter requires no-objection certificate or permission of a licence from the DGFT.

"...The formulations made from Paracetamol (including fixed-dose combinations)...are made free for export with immediate effect. However, Paracetamol APIs will remain restricted for export," it said.

The government on 3 March had put export restrictions on 26 pharma ingredients and medicines, including paracetamol.

However on 6 April, it removed the export restrictions on 24 APIs and formulations excluding Paracetamol. India exported formulations made from Paracetamol worth USD 5.41 billion during April-January 2019-20. It was USD 5.8 billion in 2018-19.

According to Mumbai-based doctor Sachin Ramteke, Paracetamol is used commonly to treat body pain and fever.

"It is used as symptomatic treatment to control body temperature," he said.