How to Start Exporting Medicines from India To Other Countries

Sanidhya Negi / October 7, 2024

The main factor contributing to the high worldwide demand for Indian medical products is the nation’s capacity and the fact that they are affordable and of great quality thanks to India’s large and well-developed pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Specifically, the country is a source of 20% of the world’s total supply volume and 60% of the world’s vaccinations. It has a strong pharmaceutical industry that is boosted by over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, generics, APIs, vaccines, biosimilars, and custom research manufacturing.

Nowadays nations across the entire world are more India-centric as it fulfills drugs in the form of generics to treatments due to India’s Sourcing they have and they assert the prices are in the right places.

Let’s see a treatment project from India at the same time the drug is attributed to the increase in the market worldwide through the business process.

Why India’s Contribution Is Important to the Global Pharmaceutical Landscape

1. Export Destinations – India exports drugs to other regions such as the Middle East, Asia,  CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Latin America & Caribbean (LAC), North America, Africa, EU, ASEAN, and other European countries. Two-thirds of the above exports are shipped to Africa, Europe, and NAFTA countries.

2. Largest Export Markets – In 2021–22, Indian pharmaceuticals headed the list of export markets of the USA, UK, South Africa, Russia, and Nigeria. To get down to specifics, the exports of Indian pharmaceuticals accounted for 29% of that in the USA, 3% for the UK, and 2.4% for Russia.

3. Export Numbers – The pharma export from India to the USA was USD 7,101.6 million. Similarly, the numbers for the UK, South Africa, Russia, and Nigeria, stood USD 704.5 million, USD 612.3 million, USD 59.8 million, and USD 588.6 million, respectively.

4. Growth Trends – Indian pharmaceuticals have grown exports to the USA by 6.9% annually over the last three years. Exports to the UK and Russia have increased by 3.8% and 7.2%, respectively.

International Shipping of Pharmaceuticals: Registration Process

To go about the registration process for shipping pharmaceutical items to other countries, you can follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s official site. On the homepage, click on “Online Application,” then select “IEC” (Importer Exporter Code) from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: If you are a new user, you need to register first. If you have already registered than just log in using your PAN number. After logging in, click “Next” to continue.

Step 3: File a new IEC application. For this, you need to go to the “File” tab and select “New IEC Application Details”. A form will appear, which you need to fill out with the required information.

Step 4: After filling out the form, click on the “Upload Documents” button to attach the necessary documents, such as, identity proof, address proof, and any other required papers.

Step 5: After uploading the documents, click the “Branch” button to provide details about any business branches that you might have.

Step 6: Use the “director” tab to enter information about the company’s directors or other higher management.

Step 7: After entering all the required details, click on the “EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer)” option to pay the processing fee of INR 250. Once the payment is successful, the IEC application will be complete, and you can submit the form.

Step 8: You will receive your IEC by email within 3 to 5 working days after your application is processed. It can also be downloaded from the DGFT portal.

Major Hubs For the Exported Indian Medicines

India is a major player when it comes to exporting pharmaceuticals. It ships pharma items to over 200 countries and territories. The table below shows the key destinations that import medicines from India.

Destination	Percentage	Key Highlights
United States	29.72%	Largest market; significant demand for generics.
Belgium	2.82%	Rapid growth with a CAGR of 59.2%.
South Africa	2.59%	Steady growth with a CAGR of 7.23%.
United Kingdom	Approximately 0.65%	Significant market, exports exceed $600 million.
Brazil	Approximately 0.64%	Emerging market for Indian pharmaceuticals.
Middle East	Not specified	Major destination due to regional healthcare needs.
Asia	Not specified	Diverse markets with varying demands.
CIS	Not specified	Key players in regional health sectors.

Procedure for Export of Pharmaceutical Products

1. Obtain the required licenses: Ensure that you are holding a valid IEC along with other pharmaceutical licenses required.

2. Compliances to regulatory standards: All the regulatory standards will be implemented, including the DCGI of India, as well as the international regulations.

3. Quality Assurance: Conduct thorough quality checks and ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

4. Documentation: Prepare essential export documents, including invoices, packing lists, and certificates of analysis. Customs Clearance: Present documentation to customs officials for clearance and make dutiable payments.

5. Shipping and Logistics: Choose a reliable logistics partner for shipping and arrange for insurance.

6. Post-Shipment Compliance: Monitor the shipment and follow any post-shipment procedures.

List of Documents Required for Shipping Medicines Abroad

The following documents are required for shipping pharmaceuticals from India:

1. Company PAN Number
2. Financial Documents
3. Banker’s Certificate
4. Cancelled Cheque
5. Proof of Business Premises
6. WHO GMP Certification

Categories of Exportable Pharmaceutical Products in India

1. Generic Medicines
2.Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
3.Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs
4.Herbal and Ayurvedic Products
5.Vaccines and Biologics
6.Medical Devices
7. Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements

Conclusion

The pharmaceutical export market of India has wide scope-diversified product categories, such as generics, APIs, and vaccines, where the demand is quite high. Some of the key markets from India are the USA, Belgium, and South Africa. However, to succeed in this kind of landscape, the right procedures are to be followed-that is, get the necessary licenses, compliance with regulations, and quality standards. These steps by businesses will allow them to take full advantage of this market that is growing while contributing significantly toward global healthcare solutions. Apart from these, you also need a trusted international courier service provider for shipping your medicines abroad.

FAQs

Ques. What Medicines are Shipped Out of India?

Ans. India exports a wide range of medicines, such as generics, APIs, OTC drugs, vaccines, biosimilars, and herbal products.

Ques. Which Country Imported Indian Medicines?

Ans. The significant importers of Indian pharmaceuticals include the USA, Europe, Africa, South Africa, Belgium, the UK, and Brazil.

Ques. How Many Documents Are Required to Export Pharma?

Ans. On the whole, there are 8-10 central documents for exporting pharmaceuticals, such as the import-export code, PAN card, and proof of business.

Ques. Why is India Famous for Medicine?

Ans. India is considered one of the drugs cheapest medicinal with high-quality medicine availability and significant production capacity contributing to global health in almost 20% of supply quantity in the world’s total volume, which encompasses 60% of vaccines.