India becoming a significant player in the global marketplace: USFDA

Jayarama Emani | The Dollar Business “India is quickly becoming a significant player in the global marketplace, representing an important source of FDA‐regulated products. With a diverse population, highly skilled work force, and favourable economic conditions, India has become an increasingly attractive location for companies to operate,” said the United States Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA) in its blog FDA Voice. “Each year, the FDA has to assess millions of products grown, harvested, processed, manufactured and shipped from outside of the U.S. And one of the most impressive examples of how this globalization of production, consumption and trade has altered the regulatory landscape is India,” said the blog. The blog went on to add that Indian regulators have become important strategic partners for FDA and that the regulatory body regularly engages with them on everything from sharing information on clinical trials to collaboratively addressing product safety issues that may harm American consumers. “It is no secret that relationship has been challenged in the recent past by lapses of quality at a handful of pharmaceutical firms,” the blog said, and added, “While our first regulatory responsibility is to protect the American patient and consumer, we are also very willing to collaborate with Indian regulators and other stakeholders to ensure the achievement of highest standards of safety and quality, something we feel only benefits both nations.” Roughly 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients, 40% of finished drugs, 80% of seafood, 50% of fresh fruit and 20% of fresh vegetables come from outside of the U.S., the report added.    

This article was published on March 31, 2015.