India-UK FTA to boost bilateral trade for pharma, medtech, say industry bodies
Medical device manufacturers anticipate an increase in trade between the two countries but are awaiting clarity on non-tariff measures and on whether regulatory processes will be streamlined.
'Previously, medical devices imported into the UK were duty-free, so tariff restrictions were not an issue but regulatory approval costs and time were a challenge,' said Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator of industry body Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (Aimed).
The body had previously sought recognition of regulatory approvals from the CDSCO or the Quality Council of India's voluntary Indian Certification for medical devices to fast-track approvals by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
'We look forward to an update on this,' said Nath.
However, medtech manufacturers are also seeking strict monitoring of imports to India, to prevent other countries rerouting products into India through the UK.
Mint had previously reported that domestic manufacturers raised concerns over the possibility of Chinese-origin products being routed through the UK to exploit the zero-tariff provisions under the FTA.
India levies about 7.5% import duties on medical devices from the UK, which are expected to come down in a phased manner after the deal, Nath said.
In 2024, medical device exports to the UK increased by 13% year-on-year to ₹ 1,015 crore, while imports from the UK rose 36% to ₹ 2,295 crore, according to Exim data.
'It not only strengthens trade ties but also opens new avenues for advanced technology collaborations between Indian and UK companies,' Himanshu Baid, managing director of Poly Medicure Ltd, said in a statement. 'With India exporting medical devices worth approximately $115 million to the UK, one of our top 10 export destinations, this agreement is poised to further boost our presence,' he added.
The trade deal is also expected to open up the market for India's generic drugmakers.
'As per the indications, the pharma sector will have opportunities to supply affordable and quality assured medicine contributing to better patient care in the UK,' said Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA).
'We are awaiting further details to identify specific areas where these opportunities can be effectively leveraged,' he added.
Generic players like Lupin, Biocon, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Wockhardt, which have exposure to the UK market, could stand to benefit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
a few seconds ago
- India.com
After Tesla, Chinese car marker BYD to shake up Maruti & Tata! set to launch its most ‘affordable' EV in India at Rs…
BYD, the world's largest electric car manufacturer, is preparing to launch its most affordable electric SUV the Atto 2 in the Indian market. The vehicle is expected to compete directly with models like the Hyundai Creta Electric and MG ZS EV. How Will BYD Takeover Tesla? Elon Musk's Tesla is falling behind BYD (Build Your Dreams) as Chinese auto makers are expanding its global EV portfolio rapidly. In India, it has launched fully electric models like the Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 7, and eMax 7. The company may introduce another new model. The BYD Atto 2 was recently spotted testing on Indian roads so it can be launched soon according to media reports. It is below the Atto 3 and electric SUV will be the most budget-friendly offering in BYD's India lineup. Competitors To BYD In India It was first shown at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show, the Atto 2 goes by different names in different markets, It is known as the Yuan Up in China and Yuan Pro in Brazil. Built on BYD's e-platform 3.0, the Atto 2 measures: Length: 4,310 mm Width: 1,830 mm Height: 1,675 mm Based on its size, it will compete with EVs like the Hyundai Creta Electric, MG ZS EV, Mahindra BE 6, Tata Curvv EV, and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara. Spy images reveal a fully test mule of the Atto 2. However, it appears that the India-spec version will closely resemble its international counterpart. The SUV features are: Signature LED headlights at the front Connected LED tail lamps at the rear A raised rear spoiler with sculpted ends A faux diffuser with silver accents on the lower rear bumper As with the rest of BYD's EV lineup, the Atto 2 comes loaded with modern features, including: A large 12.8-inch rotatable infotainment display in the center of the dashboard An 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster behind a multi-function steering wheel A sleek all-black interior theme in the Europe-spec version Panoramic sunroof, Type-C charging ports, ambient lighting Heated and power-adjustable front seats, and leather upholstery
Mint
a few seconds ago
- Mint
Decathlon plans $3 billion of sourcing from India by 2030
New Delhi: French sports goods retailer Decathlon has announced plans to scale its sourcing from India to $3 billion by 2030. This move aims to serve both the domestic and international markets. Currently, Decathlon's sourcing value from India, both for domestic and overseas markets, stands at $480 million. In terms of volume, India accounts for 8% of Decathlon's global sourcing quantities, with a goal to increase this to 15% by 2030. Additionally, the retailer plans to double its Indian business by 2023. Decathlon currently operates 132 stores across 55 cities in India with plans to expand its retail footprint to over 90 cities by 2030. India has already established itself as one of Decathlon's top-four manufacturing markets. Frederic Merlevede, head of Decathlon production, said, "Our long-term investment in India reflects the deep trust we've built with our partners and the strong potential we see in key categories like footwear, fitness equipment, and beyond." India is already an active part of Decathlon's global manufacturing. For instance, 35% of all umbrellas for global Decathlon are produced in India. Additionally, India accounts for more than 20% of Decathlon's global textile share and is a chosen country for co-developing woven and knit products for worldwide distribution. India is also a major exporter of rugby balls for Decathlon, with 60% of the global supply being 'Made in India'. Currently, Decathlon produces 100 million units of sports goods from India. Over the next five to ten years, the company has outlined plans to increase its focus on the production of footwear, cricket products, technical sports balls, technical textiles, kids' sporting accessories, metal sports equipment, fitness equipment, electronics, technical sports products, alloy-carbon bicycle frames, and swimming inflatables. The company will continue to partner with third-party manufacturers rather than operating its own factories. 'We are diversifying the range of products sourced from India. Across each range there is also an industry behind, so this can really create a big positive impact in terms of job creation. Today we source textile industries such as sports footwear, textiles, polymer injection, wood making of cricket bats, backpacks, outdoor badminton equipment etc. We have scaled across a lot of category of products in India, like backpacks, bicycles, cricket products, badminton, rackets, gloves, socks, caps etc—we feel very confident with the supplier panel we have in India, and the future looks robust for us with all these category of products,' Deepak D'Souza, head of Decathlon India production, told Mint in an interview. Meanwhile, over 70% of the quantities sold in India in 2025 are locally made, and this figure is expected to rise to 90% by 2030. The French retailer first began procuring goods from India in 2000. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are large sports goods manufacturing hubs. Merlevede said that India's manufacturing capabilities, which were less developed a decade ago, have improved. 'When the product becomes available, the manufacturing gets extremely competitive, and we are willing to take this opportunity to export this product to our different markets. Also, there is a discussion between Europe and India for a free trade agreement—it could be a welcome positive for Decathlon. In some way it could be an accelerator," he said in an interview with Mint. Decathlon's production ecosystem in India includes 113 third-party manufacturing sites, 83 suppliers, and 7 production offices. The company is also deepening its focus on culturally rooted sports like yoga and cricket, with the latter being entirely conceptualized and manufactured in India. Decathlon aims to create more than 300,000 new job opportunities within its direct and indirect workforce as part of this growth journey. The sports goods retailer operates 1,700 stores worldwide.
Mint
10 minutes ago
- Mint
Two-thirds of Indian adolescents swayed by food ads; higher taxes on sugary, fatty foods may help curb rising obesity
New Delhi: An overwhelming 67.57% of adolescents in India are influenced by ads when making their food choices, a large nationwide survey has found, amid a focus on child obesity as a major lifestyle-related health concern. The survey of 143,000 adolescent respondents was conducted in 2022 as part of the Let's Fix Our Food initiative, a public-private partnership between the Public Health Foundation of India, the Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, and UNICEF. The findings are currently undergoing peer review for publication in a scientific journal. Unhealthy food advertising, often using celebrity endorsements and games, heavily influences young people's food choices, contributing to rising obesity and related diseases. The policy brief stated that in India, 90% of ads for children and youth on TV are for High Fat, Sugar, and Salt (HFSS) foods. Studies show such ads increase consumption; for example, children watching cartoon food ads ate 45% more. It said that current Indian advertising rules, especially the 2022 guidelines, are weak, lacking clear definitions for "junk foods" or child-targeted ads. India must strengthen these rules with clear definitions and wider scope to protect everyone, not just children. Countries like Chile and South Korea prove strong, mandatory ad restrictions work. With projections from the World Obesity Atlas 2022 indicating that over 27 million Indian children and adolescents could be affected by obesity by 2030, the survey highlighted that unhealthy eating habits and insufficient physical activity are key drivers of overweight and obesity among young people. The survey found that nearly half (49.46%) of respondents receive most of their nutrition information from schools. However, economic barriers play a significant role, with 30.7% of adolescents citing high prices as an obstacle to healthy foods. While a large majority (72.58%) of adolescents said they do read nutrition information on food products, over half (62.81%) said this information should be simplified. Additionally, around 43.88% of adolescents believe that providing more information about unhealthy food items could deter them from consumption. The outcomes of the LFOF initiative, including a detailed policy brief, were recently discussed at a high-level stakeholder consultation in the presence of Dr V.K. Paul, member, NITI Aayog, and D Rajiv Bahl, director general, ICMR. To combat this growing crisis, the initiative urges the government to tighten regulations on advertisements for unhealthy food products targeting children. Other crucial recommendations include introducing health taxes on high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods and ensuring clear, simplified nutrition information on food packaging. 'Develop guidelines for clear front-of-pack nutrition information on packaged foods and regulate HFSS food consumption. Introduce health taxes on HFSS foods. Enforce the ban on HFSS foods in and around educational institutions, as per FSSAI guidelines. Implement programs to make healthy foods more affordable and accessible and Avoid partnerships with corporations promoting HFSS foods among adolescents," the policy brief said. Prof. Monika Arora, Vice President, Research and Health Promotion, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), stated, 'The recommendations such as the introduction of health taxes on HFSS foods and clearer front-of-pack nutrition labelling are presently under discussion. They have been shared with relevant stakeholders. These discussions are part of a growing national and global movement towards creating healthier food environments for children and adolescents." Addressing HFSS Food Marketing On the taxation front, the document said that health taxes are crucial in India to combat obesity and related diseases driven by unhealthy foods like sugary drinks. It said that the WHO endorses taxation as a cost-effective solution, already adopted by over 70 countries. A modelling study on fiscal policies in India found that a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) could reduce overweight and obesity by 3% and type 2 diabetes by 1.6% with the largest relative effect expected among young rural men. 'Extending similar strategies to unhealthy foods especially those aggressively marketed to children could play a critical role in safeguarding public health," Prof Arora said. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO Chief Scientist and ICMR Director General, welcomed the crucial findings of the survey, reiterating that the rising trends of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India are directly linked to the significant impact of advertising on adolescents' food choices. This, coupled with poor diet and lack of physical activity, predisposes them to NCDs, making immediate action essential to reverse the trend. She emphasized the need for strict advertising regulations to prevent unsubstantiated claims, especially for products targeting children with appealing characters or gifts, which are often high in fat and sugar. She also called for effective front-of-pack labeling, suggesting a clear A, B (healthy) and C, D (unhealthy) system based on fat, sugar, and salt content, rather than the proposed star labeling by FSSAI. Furthermore, she advocated for health taxes on tobacco, sweets, and high-fat/sugar foods, similar to those in countries like Thailand. While acknowledging that such taxes in India currently contribute to the general treasury, she stressed that ideally, these funds should directly benefit public health schemes and educational campaigns to deter unhealthy consumption. Echoing these concerns, Dr. Suranjeet Chatterjee, Senior Consultant at the Internal Medicine Department, Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha in Delhi, emphasized the critical need for strict regulation of advertisements in India. He highlighted that endorsements by film stars and other prominent figures significantly impact not only children but also adults. Dr Chatterjee stressed that food labeling must clearly indicate the amounts of fat, sugar, salt, and calories. He noted a concerning shift in food consumption patterns, leading to a rise in heart disease, blood pressure, and diabetes at much younger ages. "Earlier, very rarely would patients in the age group of 30-35 years come with problems of heart disease, but now, the percentage has increased in the age group of 25-35 years," he stated, underlining the urgency of addressing these lifestyle-related health issues. 'The findings of the report indicate that 68% of adolescents are influenced by food advertisements, and nearly 31% reported that high food prices prevent them from eating healthy. These insights highlight the urgent need to improve affordability and accessibility of nutritious foods for young people. Addressing childhood obesity must remain a national priority, with stronger policies on food environment, nutrition education, physical activity, and front of pack nutrition labeling and its skill-based literacy, supported by community engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration, said Preetu Mishra, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF. The findings reinforce the need for system-level policy interventions to reshape the food environment. Among the key recommendations is the introduction of health taxes on HFSS foods (Food high in fat, salt and sugar), which is supported by global and regional evidence showing their impact on reducing consumption of unhealthy foods and incentivizing better industry practices. WHO recommends taxation as one of the most cost-effective tools. An increasing number of countries have taken steps to implement fiscal policies that promote healthy diets, with 115 countries taxing sugar-sweetened beverages nationally as of February 2024. An additional 41 countries have applied national taxation on a variety of unhealthy food categories, Mishra added.
