Britain removes 2-yr import curbs on Wockhardt unit

Imports curbs on firm's Chikalthana plant were imposed in 2013; UK contributes a third to company's revenue

Britian’s health regulator has lifted all import restrictions on Wockhardt's Chikalthana (Aurangabad in Maharashtra) manufacturing unit, the drug maker said on Tuesday.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency had imposed  import restrictions on this plant in 2013.

The restrictions were partially lifted in June, following an inspection, and export from here to Britain had resumed. After another round of inspection in October, the British regulator has cleared the facility. “We have received a communication confirming the closure of the inspection and issuance of an unrestricted good manufactuing practice certificate,” Wockhardt informed BSE on Tuesday.

The British market contributes about a third to the company's consolidated revenue.

The unit, however, continues to face restrictions from the American regulator, the Food and Drug Administration. The company says it is expecting an early  resolution of the FDA sanctions.

The latter’s officials have inspected Wockhardt's facilities in the past few months and the company says it has responded to all the issues raised.

Shares of Wockhardt on Tuesday closed at Rs 1,690.6 per scrip on BSE, up 1.9 per cent from its previous close.