New Delhi, July 11 -- A new rule centralizing the approval process for drug exports through a web portal could squeeze shipments by nearly 45%, an exports promotion body said, seeking time to shift to the new system.

A certificate of pharmaceutical product (COPP) is mandatory to ship drugs to a foreign country. It certifies that the product is manufactured in compliance with good manufacturing practices and is of appropriate quality, safety, and efficacy. Last week, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) said all COPP applications must be submitted solely through a single licensing portal.

This could severely disrupt India's pharmaceutical exports, said officials at Pharmexcil, which works to promote Indian pharmaceutic...