The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL), set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 24, 2026, at CBN Headquarters in Gwalior. The MoU aims to support India's growing pharmaceutical export sector while ensuring proper regulatory checks stay in place, especially given India's position as a leading global supplier of APIs, bulk drugs, formulations, and medical devices.

Key Highlights of the CBN and PHARMEXCIL MoU

A Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) will be developed jointly with PHARMEXCIL, offering recommended practices for exporters without adding any new legal or financial obligations
The partnership will focus on identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks to make legitimate pharmaceutical exports smoother and faster
Joint workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns will be organised for exporters, involving relevant bodies like CDSCO and Customs where needed
A structured framework for information sharing has been established to support regulatory objectives, while maintaining confidentiality as required by law
Pharma companies will nominate dedicated Contact Persons to coordinate matters related to the Voluntary Code of Conduct

Signing Ceremony and Dignitaries At CBN and PHARMEXCIL MoU

The MoU was formally signed by Dr Dinesh Bisen, Narcotics Commissioner representing CBN, and Shri Raja Bhanu, Director General of PHARMEXCIL. Following the exchange of documents, officials from both sides held detailed discussions on the way forward, focusing on a six-month action plan centred on nationwide outreach and stakeholder engagement in coordination with PHARMEXCIL.

Role of CBN Under the NDPS Act, 1985

The Central Bureau of Narcotics operates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, functioning within the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Its responsibilities include overseeing licit opium poppy cultivation, issuing authorisations for the import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and ensuring that essential chemical inputs used in pharmaceuticals aren't diverted for illegal purposes.

This new partnership with PHARMEXCIL extends the government's broader Ease of Doing Business agenda, aiming to reduce delays in export authorisations while keeping strong safeguards in place against misuse of controlled substances.