India's drug import process gets an online upgrade

India's apex drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has moved the approval process for importing drugs entirely online, aiming to improve transparency, accountability, and the ease of doing business.

- Priyanka Sharma

This reform applies to drugs imported in bulk for non-medicinal purposes—or 'dual-use' drugs—commonly used in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, and animal feed, according to the two officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

The new dual use system, launched on the SUGAM Portal, introduces a one-year no-objection certificate (NOC) for approved importers. This reduces the administrative burden of frequent renewals.