Union Health Ministry Notifies Navi Mumbai Airport as Drug Import Port

The Union health ministry has recently inaugurated the Navi Mumbai Airport in Maharashtra as a designated port for the import of drugs under the Drugs Rules, 1945. In an official statement issued on Wednesday, authorities stated that the move is aimed at strengthening the pharmaceutical supply chain and facilitating the ease of trade.

To enable this, the ministry issued a gazette notification amending Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945. This amendment officially includes Navi Mumbai in the list of airports through which drugs may be imported into the country.

According to government officials, the notification was issued after detailed consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board. The process was carried out under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

With the addition of the Navi Mumbai Airport, the total number of notified ports of entry for the import of drugs across India has now increased to 42. These official entry points are spread across different transport mediums, including air, sea, road, and rail.

The amendment is expected to facilitate the smoother movement of pharmaceutical consignments, strengthen the existing logistics infrastructure, and provide greater flexibility to importers by introducing a new alternative port for the import of medicines into India.

The statement added that this initiative is in line with the government's continued efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework, improve trade facilitation, and promote the Ease of Doing Business. At the same time, the government aims to maintain effective regulatory oversight of all imported drugs.