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The India–EU Free Trade Agreement provides substantial benefits for the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors, subject to phased implementation and final ratification details.
Suresh Nair, partner, Indirect Tax, EY India (Lifesciences) noted The EU will eliminate tariffs of up to 11% on pharmaceuticals and reduce tariffs on approximately 90% of medical devices from up to 27.5% to zero. The agreement strengthens regulatory cooperation, simplifies compliance procedures, and enhances intellectual property protections, improving the competitiveness of Indian exporters in this sector.
On a similar note was Surjeet Thakur, founder and CEO, TrioTree who said that the India-EU FTA is a significant boost for healthcare, pharma, and medical devices, as reduced tariffs and smoother regulatory pathways will improve access to advanced technologies, affordable medicines, and high-quality equipment. For Indian manufacturers, it opens up stronger export opportunities in regulated European markets, while hospitals and patients benefit from lower costs and faster adoption of innovations. The agreement also creates scope for deeper R&D collaboration, strengthening India’s position as a global health and healthtech manufacturing hub.
According to Nair, EU firms gain improved access to India’s fast growing market for high value medical technologies. Overall, the FTA is expected to significantly expand bilateral market access and contribute to growth in high skill employment and manufacturing across both regions, while ongoing monitoring of non-tariff barriers and compliance requirements will help address potential challenges.
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