Ministry of Finance TheDollarBusiness

Review of FDI policy in pharmaceutical sector

Dated 6th January, 2015 | Copy of | Press Note no. 2 (2015 Series) | Review of the policy on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pharmaceutical Sector- carve out for medical devices. 1.0  Present Position: 1.1  Paragraph 6.2.18 of ‘Consolidated FDI Policy Circular of 2014’, effective from April 17, 2014, relating to Foreign Direct Investment policy in pharmaceuticals sector is as under:

6.2.18 Pharmaceuticals
6.2.18.1 Greenfield 100% Automatic
6.2.18.2 Brownfield 100% Government
6.2.18.3 Other Conditions:
  (i) Non-compete’ clause would not be allowed except in special circumstances with the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.(ii) The prospective investor and the prospective investee are required to provide a certificate along with the FIPB application. (iii) Government may incorporate appropriate conditions for FDI in brownfield cases, at the time of granting approval.

  2.0  Revised Position: 2.1  The Government of India has reviewed the position in this regard and the policy will now be read as under:

6.2.18 Pharmaceuticals
6.2.18.1 Greenfield 100% Automatic
6.2.18.2 Brownfield 100% Government
6.2.18.3 Other Conditions:
  (i) Non-compete’ clause would not be allowed except in special circumstances with the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.(ii) The prospective investor and the prospective investee are required to provide a certificate along with the FIPB application. (iii) Government may incorporate appropriate conditions for FDI in brownfield cases, at the time of granting approval. Note: i. FDI up to 100%, under the automatic route is permitted for manufacturing of medical devices. The abovementioned conditions will, therefore, not be applicable to greenfield as well as brownfield projects of this industry. ii.  Medical device means- a.  any instrument, apparatus, appliance, implant, material or other article, whether used alone or in combination, including the software, intended by its manufacturer to be used specially for human beings or animals for one or more of the specific purposes of- (aa) diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of any disease or disorder; (ab) diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of, or assistance for, any injury or handicap; (ac) investigation, replacement or modification or    support    of    the anatomy or of a physiological process; (ad) supporting or sustaining life; (ae) disinfection of medical devices; (at) control of conception, and which does not achieve its primary intended action in or on the human body or animals by any pharmacological or immunological or metabolic means, but which may be assisted in its intended function by such means; b. an accessory to such an instrument, apparatus, appliance, material or other article; c. a device which is reagent, reagent product, calibrator, control material, kit, instrument, apparatus, equipment or system whether used alone or in  combination  thereof  intended  to  be  used for examination and providing information for medical or diagnostic purposes by means of in vitro examination of specimens derived from the human body or animals. iii. The definition of medical device at Note (ii) above would be subject to the amendment in Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

  3.0 The above decision will take effect from 21.01.2015.

Sd/-             (Atul Chaturvedi) Joint Secretary   

File No.: No.1/16/2010-FC.I Issued by: Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion New Delhi

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The Dollar Business Bureau - Jan 06, 2015 12:00 IST