Indian government considers joining global regulatory alliance

The Indian government could be set to join a worldwide alliance of pharmaceutical websites.

An official was quoted by the Economic Times as saying that the commerce ministry is thinking of applying for observer status in the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention Scheme and Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PICS/S).

The international alliance operates across 45 countries and aims to promote high manufacturing standards in every nation.

Policymakers in India believe this will allow the Indian pharma sector to stay "in the loop" and help it maintain global standards.

While observer status would give India an insight into the standards in regulated markets such as the European Union and the US, it would not allow it to be an active participant in developments.

"To become a member, the manufacturing facilities need to be upgraded, and that is something the small companies can't do," the official commented.

"Moreover, it takes six to seven years for a country to become a member."