India, July 8 -- The Centre has approved Navi Mumbai International Airport as a designated port for the import of drugs under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Drugs Rules, 1945. The move is aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains and improving ease of trade for medicine imports.

The ministry amended Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, to include Navi Mumbai Airport among the approved entry points for importing drugs into India. The notification was issued after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

With this approval, the total number of notified ports of entry for drug imports across air, road, rail and sea routes has increased to 42. The ad...