Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

17-November-2011 18:41 IST

Anand Sharma Welcomes Australian Decision to Reverse Ban on Uranium to India Raises Concerns Regarding NTB on Pharma Exports

The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Shri Anand Sharma has welcomed the Australian decision of reversing its ban on selling uranium to India. In a meeting with Mr. Barry O’Farrell the Premier of New South Wales, Australia, Shri Sharma said this decision will be welcomed all around and is in line with the strategic nature of the relationship between the two countries.

Shri Sharma further mentioned that India is going through a decade of innovation and for this purpose, India has institutional linkages with Germany, Switzerland and U.K. in the sectors of agriculture, pharmaceuticals and precision engineering. India and Australia have huge potential in collaborating in this area . Shri Sharma recalled his meeting with Senator Kim Carr, Australia’s Minister for Technology where both sides expressed willingness to collaborate in the fields of bio technology, Automobile sector ICT and mines.

Minister Sharma raised the concerns regarding pharmaceutical exports from India to Australia require approvals from Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA approval process is a long drawn out and expensive process. There is no recognition or concession to Indian companies who have FDA approval or GMP certificate, which allows a faster process. Minister suggested that using the services of Australian professionals to draw out a standard which when followed by the Indian companies would result in obtaining permission to export their medicines to Australia. This would only help in improving the standards of our industry as well as make it easier for Indian companies to enter the Australian market which is very lucrative for the pharmaceutical sector of India.

Bilateral Trade between India and Australia in 2010 has been US $ 13.708 billion. Total trade between January to August 2011 has been US $ 9.351 billion. India is engaged with Australia in negotiations Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. Shri Sharma emphasized that both sides must aim for concluding the agreement latest by middle of 2012.

*****

DS

Non-tariff barrier: TGA approval delays impede Indian pharmaceutical exports; mutual standards proposed to ease Australian market access. The statement identifies non tariff barriers to pharmaceutical trade arising from the Therapeutic Goods Administration approval process, which lacks concessions for Indian firms with FDA approval or GMP certification, and proposes using Australian professionals to draft a standard that Indian manufacturers can follow to obtain export permission; it also notes Australia's reversal of its uranium ban and urges conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement to enhance market access and regulatory cooperation.