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In a significant stride towards strengthening India’s pharmaceutical footprint in the Pacific region, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MoHMS), Republic of Fiji. This strategic partnership paves the way for the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as a standard for evaluating Market Authorization (MA) applications for Indian-manufactured medicinal products intended for the Fijian market.
Fiji is a South Pacific nation comprising of over 300 islands.
Hailing this development as a major breakthrough for India’s pharmaceutical exporters, Raja Bhanu K., director general, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), stated, “This recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia in Fiji is not just an endorsement of our scientific rigor but a gateway to enhanced regulatory cooperation and market access in the South Pacific. It reflects India’s growing stature as a trusted global supplier of quality medicines.”
The purpose of this MoU is to establish a framework for the recognition of the IP as a pharmacopoeial standard for assessing applications for market authorisation for medicinal products manufactured in India. This development is expected to significantly ease regulatory procedures and facilitate greater market access for Indian pharmaceutical products in Fiji.
This MoU will support Fiji's current efforts to strengthen its medicinal products regulatory system to ensure the health and safety of Fijians by ensuring medicinal products such as medicines and medical devices are safe, effective, and of high quality.
Based on the Fiji market authorisation processes and requirements, the MoHMS shall recognise the IP as one of the standards for medicinal products manufactured in India for use in Fiji, where the standard meets or exceeds Fiji's regulatory requirements.
Key operational provisions of the MoU include recognition of IP Standards. Fiji’s MoHMS will recognize the IP as an acceptable standard for Indian pharmaceutical products submitted for market approval in Fiji, provided these align with or surpass local requirements.
Indian companies must comply with Fiji’s broader regulatory framework, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality control protocols, and local MA requirements. Both IPC and MoHMS will collaborate to share regulatory knowledge and train personnel on evolving global standards and emerging drug quality frameworks.
To further empower exporters and ensure seamless implementation of the MoU, Pharmexcil, in collaboration with the High Commission of India to Fiji, is organizing a focused webinar titled "Emerging Opportunities for Indian Pharma in the Fijian Market", scheduled for June 3, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
The virtual session will serve as a knowledge-sharing platform aimed at Indian pharmaceutical exporters and manufacturers, highlighting the regulatory and commercial implications of the IPC–MoHMS MoU, trade opportunities emerging in the Fijian pharmaceutical landscape and step-by-step insights into Fiji’s market authorization and procurement processes.
Webinar agenda highlights include opening address by Raja Bhanu, DG, Pharmexcil followed by remarks by Suneet Mehta, High Commissioner of India to Fiji and address by representatives of Fiji’s MoHMS. There will also be a technical briefing on “Regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical registration and procurement process in Fiji” by Ilisabeta Pesamino, Chief Pharmacist, MoHMS, Fiji and presentation on the subject of “Indian Pharma: Potential Collaboration with Fiji” by Murali Krishna, Director, Pharmexcil followed by an interactive Q&A session followed by concluding remarks by the High Commission of India to Fiji
Pharmexcil has urged all its stakeholders to actively participate in this session, which is poised to clarify procedural nuances and offer strategic insights into the fast-evolving Fijian pharmaceutical ecosystem.
Speaking about the broader impact, Raja Bhanu added, “This partnership is aligned with India’s vision of being the ‘Pharmacy of the World’. By enabling mutual recognition of standards and facilitating capacity-building, we are reinforcing the credibility of Indian pharma on a global scale.”
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