India’s Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) has asked for a meeting with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of Nigeria after the Nigerian agency accused Indian exporters/drugmakers of being in illegal and unprofessional practices.
Ravi Uday Bhaskar, Director-General, stated, “We proposed a meeting, and they have agreed.” The meeting is all set to be held on May 31 with NAFDAC. Indian pharma industry’s stakeholders, particularly exporters, are anticipated to partake in the meeting.
The meeting will discuss about the Nigerian regulator charging Indian pharmaceutical exporters/manufacturers of being in unprofessional and unethical practices with the Nigerian importers. It has further warned them of strict actions. Earlier this month, Pharmexcil warned members regarding the communication from NAFDAC, raising issues in regard to the product package design.
Bhaskar stated that the meeting to get more details from the Nigerian officials is significant given that the African country has been figuring in India’s top 5-6 pharma export locations.
Pharmaceutical exports to Nigeria stand at $588.59 million in FY22 against $573.17 million in FY21. In FY20, the total exports were $443.09 million.
NAFDAC is one of the most strict drug regulators in Africa. Nigeria was the first nation that launched pre-shipment analysis around ten years ago. Around ten years ago, it had established an agency in Mumbai to test samples, after which the consignment was cleared. This is even if the drug is manufactured in an USFDA-approved department. Bhaskar asked member companies to follow the NAFDAC directions for untroubled exports in the meeting.
The Nigerian regulator had stated a suspension of six months had been authorised for manufacturers to clear every consignment that broke the approved formulations and package designs.
The temporary prohibition ends on October 30. It warned, “Any violative product that is boarded on airlines or shipping vessels from November 1, 2022, will be confiscated upon arrival in Nigeria. Any erring importer and manufacturer/exporter will be subjected to strict penalties, sanctions, product de-registration and consequent blacklisting.”
 has asked for a meeting with the National Agency for Food and Drug){kind=link}