INDIA TO ALLOW MANUFACTURE OF BANNED DRUGS FOR EXPORT

The Indian government is planning to expand the list of psychotropic substances that are allowed to be manufactured in the country for export purposes only. Many behavior-altering drugs are controlled or outlawed in India, but other countries may have less strict drug regulations. The new list would consist of 34 drugs moved from the Schedule I list of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules, which are substances prohibited for both import and export in the country. The changes, once effective, would enable pharmaceutical industry to manufacture these drugs for export purposes.

The government has also proposed amending the regulation to loosen the rules governing the quantity of psychotropic substances patients may possess at one time. The rules also may be changed to allow manufacturers to supply samples of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to testing laboratories, enforcement agencies and training institutions.

According to a draft of the amendments, the psychotropic substances that are to be allowed to be manufactured for export include Amfepramone, Benzfetamine, Brotizolam, Clorazepate, Delorazepam, Ethinamate, Fludiazepam, Haloxazolam, Lefetamine, Lormetazepam Medazepam, Methyprylon, Oxazolam, Phendimetrazine, Pinazepam, Prazepam, Tetrazepam and Zipeprol.