Commerce ministry begins anti-dumping probe against antibiotic metronidazole imported from China
The Union ministry of commerce and industry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation against antibiotic metronidazole imported from China following a complaint filed by Aarti Drugs Limited.
Metronidazole is used in treatment of bacterial infections and parasitic infections. It is used in cases of amoebiasis (amoebic dysentery), trichomoniasis (STD), giardiasis (beaver fever), gingivitis (gum inflammation), acute ulcerative, anaerobic vaginosis (vaginal inflammation) caused by overgrowth of natural bacterial found in the tracts.
The product, an intermediate compound 2-Methyl 5-Nitro Imidazole undergoes a condensation process with ethylene oxide in the presence of formic acid (85 per cent) and sulphuric acid (98 per cent). An esterification reaction is carried out with methanol which generates methyl formate (methyl methanoate). This esterification reaction is mass precipitated with liquor ammonia at the rate (24 per cent)] to isolate the unreacted 2-MNI. This isolated 2-MNI is dried and reused in process. The washing mother liquor is transferred to a multiple-effect evaporator for recovery of ammonium sulphate and mixed glycol. The filtered cake is transferred for separation, wherein caustic soda flakes and ice mix is used to isolate the crude metronidazole. The wet crude metronidazole is decolorized with the help of charcoal and is further crystallized to isolate metronidazole. This isolated metronidazole is filtered. The wet material is dried in the drier, unloaded and labelled as dry pure metronidazole.
The probe is being conducted by the ministry’s investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
The domestic company Aarti Drugs Limited has filed an application before the DGTR seeking an anti-dumping probe concerning imports of metronidazole from China.
The applicant has alleged that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry due to the alleged dumped imports, originating in or exported from China and has requested for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on the imports of the subject goods from China.
The applicant is the major producer of metronidazole in India. Another producer is Unichem Laboratories which does not sell the product in India and exports its entire production.
The applicant claimed that its performance has been severely impacted in the form of low production, sales and market share and significant losses, cash losses and negative return on capital employed.
The applicant said that the Chinese producers must be asked to demonstrate that their costs and price information are market-driven and if they are not complying with this, the normal value should be calculated as per the prevailing rules.
On the basis of the duly substantiated written application by or on behalf of the domestic industry, and having satisfied itself, on the basis of the prima facie evidence submitted about the dumping, the DGTR has initiated the investigations, according to a notification of the directorate on October 4, 2022.
The proposed period of investigation is from April 2021 to March 2022. The injury investigation period for the present investigation will be 2018-2021 and period of investigation.
The DGTR has invited information related to the investigation within thirty days from the date of receipt of the notice. Any party making any confidential submission or providing information on confidential basis before the Authority, is required to simultaneously submit a non-confidential version of the same.
Source : 1
AuroBlog | Clinical Research Blog | Aurous HealthCare CRO, India 