Maharashtra government asked to lift pharma e-commerce ban

Indian Pharmaceutical Dealers' Association (IPDA), the largest body of pharma dealers in e-commerce, has demanded that the Maharashtra government lift the ban on pharma exports that has hit local pharma industry.
Pharma companies in Maharashtra have been suffering losses to the tune of Rs 4 crore per day ever since the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforced a ban on exports of pharma products through parcel posts in February this year, IPDA president Sunil Phalke and secretary Navneet Sahay told reporters here today.
IPDA, which represents more than 50 pharma manufacturers and exporters, has asked the Maharashtra government to immediately intervene to stop harassment of law abiding pharma companies in the state under the pretext of curbing "clandestine activities," Sahay said.

He said the IPDA has offered every help to the government to clearly define laws to curb illegal activities.
The biggest negative impact of banning exports through parcel posts has been on e-commerce trade of pharmaceuticals, which has completely crashed after the ban was clamped four months ago, since parcel post is used to export consignments of less than five kilogrammes.
An IPDA delegation is scheduled to meet Union Minister for Commerce Nirmala Sitaraman in New Delhi tomorrow, IPDA sources said.