Homeopathic medicines worth Rs 7 cr held by Customs

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) More than Rs 7 crore worth homeopathic medicines imported from Germany are held up at custom office here for the last one month due to which the custmers are facing crisis.

The department says consignment will be released only on payment of penalty of 25 per cent of the total cost of the consignment along with other taxes.

The drugs which have been held up for one month might get spoilt if not stored properly.

The medicines have been withheld in violation of Rule 43A, which states that the medicines can be imported by sea into India only through Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Cochin and Nhava Sheva.

No mention is available for the road transportation of the drugs.

Now, according to the Homeopathic Pharmaceutical Association of India, the customes should be cleared from Mumbai or Nhava Sheva only.

''Customs authorities are insisting that customs be cleared at Mumbai or Nhava Sheva only and cannot be New Delhi dry ports,'' said Homeopathic Pharmaceutical Association of India President R N Wahi.

He said the medicines that are held up include life saving drugs as well and the supply shortage of these will not only lead to rise in prices but an acute shortage might lead to problems.

Apart from Germany, India imports homeopathic medicines from France, UK and the US for about Rs 80 crore a year.

Though the home production of these medicines might offer little relief, but the import hitch might spell trouble in the long run that is 30 per cent of the total supply, Dr Wahi said.

UNI