How to import medicines from India
Towada Products · New Delhi, India · Updated October 2026
To import medicines from India, a buyer normally needs permission to import pharmaceuticals in their own country, a supplier in India that holds an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) and a valid drug licence, an agreed quotation or proforma invoice, and a shipment that travels with the documents required by the destination country's customs and medicines regulator. The importing country sets the exact rules, so the first step is to confirm them with the national medicines regulator or a licensed customs broker.
What are the steps to import medicines from India?
- Confirm your country's import rules for the specific products: importer licence, product registration and any import permit.
- Shortlist suppliers and verify their registrations and product documents.
- Send an enquiry with product names, strengths, pack sizes, quantities and the destination country.
- Receive a quotation or proforma invoice stating price, currency, delivery term, payment terms and lead time.
- Confirm the order and pay according to the agreed terms.
- The supplier packs the goods, prepares the export documents and clears the shipment through Indian Customs.
- The shipment travels by international courier or air cargo.
- You or your customs broker clear the goods at destination, then check them against the invoice, packing list and batch documents.
Who is allowed to import medicines from India?
This is decided by the importing country, not by India. In most countries, commercial import of prescription medicines is limited to licensed entities such as registered importers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, hospitals and government or institutional buyers.
Towada Products supplies prescription medicines to licensed distributors, pharmacies and institutions in accordance with destination-country import and prescribing regulations.
Does a medicine have to be registered in my country before I import it?
In many countries a medicine must be registered with the national medicines regulator before it can be imported for sale. Many countries also have separate routes for medicines that are not registered locally, such as special-access or named-patient imports, tenders and institutional permits. Confirm which route applies to your product before you place an order.
What must the Indian exporter have?
A commercial exporter in India needs an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). A company that sells or distributes medicines also needs a drug licence issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Each export consignment is declared to Indian Customs on a shipping bill.
Which documents will I receive with the shipment?
A shipment normally includes a commercial invoice, a packing list and a courier or air waybill. Buyers commonly also request a Certificate of Analysis for each batch, and a certificate of origin or a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) where the destination country requires one.
How long does it take to import medicines from India?
Lead time depends on the product, the order quantity and the destination. For orders with Towada Products it is typically a few weeks once an order is confirmed, which covers sourcing, export documentation and shipping. Customs clearance at destination can add time.
How do I send an enquiry to Towada Products?
Use the enquiry form on our website, email H.S.Gandhi@towadaproducts.in, or message +91 99995 62955 on WhatsApp. Include the product names, strengths, quantities, destination country and any documents your regulator requires. Pricing is quoted on enquiry and depends on product, quantity, destination country and availability.
This page is general information for trade buyers such as importers, distributors, hospitals and institutions. Import rules differ by country and change over time. Confirm the current requirements with your national medicines regulator and customs authority before ordering.