While this a path breaking initiative,  FTAs in past have been detrimental to medical devices sector and only made us more important dependent and less Atmaribhar – we had explained our concerns to Department of Pharma and Dept Of Commerce.

Our concerns had been that for this to be a mutually beneficial deal we needed fast track regulatory approval based on ICMeD – ISO certification to over come non tariff measures put in by UK and to safeguard Indian manufacturers from rerouted products from China etc via UK as purportedly made in UK or UK country of Origin products even if wholly made by a “UK based legal “ (and not actual manufacturer ) manufacturer in a 3 rd country. We are not afraid of competing with UK made products. We had sought Dept Of Commerce to ensure that goods coming under UK FTA benefits to India needed to have over 35% value added in UK with change of tariff heading of inputs to qualify as manufactured in UK- we welcome UK medical devices into India as long as these do not undermine make in India of medical devices in India. We are seeking finer details to enable us to make an informed comment “ stated Rajiv Nath , Forum Coordinator, AiMeD