The Central Board of allowed(CBN) allowed scanned copy of the application, along with the self-authenticated copies of all the documents and routine permits with 48 hours prior permission for export/import of Narcotic Drugs/Psychotropic Substances and Controlled Substances amid the nationwide lockdown.
The Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association made a representation to the CBN, on March 27, 2020, that due to the lockdown in the country pharma companies are facing non-functioning of courier companies or speed post or delay in deliveries. The exporters/importers of Narcotic Drugs/Psychotropic Substances/Controlled Substances are hence facing difficulties.
Keeping in view the market situation due to COVID-19, the CBN issued a notification allowing the exporters/importers of Narcotic Drugs/ Psychotropic Substances/Controlled Substances to submit the scanned copy of the application, along with self-authenticated copies of all the documents on the email id suptd-narco@cbn.nic.in/supdt tech@cbn.nic.in/onkarmishra@cbn.nic.in for Narcotic Drugs/Psychotropic Substances/ Controlled Substances.
This, however is a temporary move and once the lockdown is lifted by the Union Government, the exporters/importers needs to submit the hard copies of the original import certificate within a period of 15 days of uplifting of the lockdown.
Devesh Malladi, Chairman, NDPS Committee, IDMA, said, “We see the government is working round-the-clock for making things easier for the pharma industry. They have taken into consideration our raised issues and in a difficult time due to COVID-19, and nationwide lockdown they reverted positively. We had requested the CBN, and accepted the industry’s plea and with this, we will submit the scanned copy of application which CBN can upload on the customs portal ICEGATE Indian Customs EDI Gateway), which will ease out the process of application of the exporter/ importer of Narcotic Drugs/Psychotropic Substances/Controlled Substances.”
Malladi emphasised, “It is a very robust portal, much better than our SUGAM portal. It has started functioning immediately for us.”
He explained, “We will be further requesting to the concerned authority to consider extending it from 15 days to minimum 30 days because our country might lift the lockdown, but the situation might not be the same in the importing country. And knowing the fact that most of the international borders are closed and very limited flights/ freighters/special cargo are functioning. In that case, getting a hardcopy from the importing countries will be a challenging affair. Hence, we will be making another representation to the respective authority.”
Commenting on the routine permits, with 48 hours’ prior permission, he said, ” We sought that too, because most of the international borders are closed and the government has banned incoming and outgoing flights to prevent the spread of community transmission of coronavirus in the country. And in such a pandemic situation, maintaining an original routine, which was mentioned in the original permit, is not possible and the revised routine will take three weeks, which is a long period.”