Govt to consider out of turn green clearances for bulk drug projects

NEWDELHI:The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) will consider out of turn clearances for projects or activities related to bulk drugs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and bulk drug intermediates to prepare for the novel coronavirus outbreak, which is now declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

The ministry wrote to the Central Pollution Control Board, chairman of Expert Appraisal Committees, chairperson state environment impact assessment authority, member secretaries of all state pollution control boards on Wednesday, drawing their attention to improve overall preparedness of drugs. It assured the projects related to bulk drugs shall be considered out of turn .

The MoEFCC officials said at a policy level a decision has been taken to expedite all bulk drug-related projects. “We don’t know how many of these projects are related to Covid-9. The expert committee will know after it sees the proposals. We will also consider drug production expansion projects as a priority. We will try to address all drug-related projects first,” said Sharath Kumar Pallerla, scientist ‘F’/director, MoEFCC, who issued the order.

The ministry’s EAC will consider four projects related to the manufacturing of bulk drugs on March 25 and 27, according to the agenda put out on its website.

Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd has announced that a vaccine for the Covid-19 is expected to progress to human trials phase within the next six months. The vaccine — developed by SII in partnership with American Biotechnology firm Codagenix — has progressed to the preclinical tests phase, or the animal trial phase.

We will also consider drug production expansion projects as a priority. We will try to address all drug-related projects first

SHARATH KUMAR PALLERLA, scientist ‘F’/director, MoEFCC