The move is a sequel to the representations made by Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) and the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) separately to the DGFT and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to remove both the salts of vitamin B1 from the negative list.

Informed sources say that the plea of the industry would be considered favourably by the ministry as the shortage of vitamin B1 is genuine. Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL), the sole manufacturer of vitamin B1 in the country, had stopped production of both the salts of vitamin B1 since October 1996 and imports through advancelicenses have been discontinued by DGFT subsequently.

Meanwhile, in a separate representation made to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), IDMA and OPPI have urged NPPA to either increase the ceiling price for both the salts of vitamin B1 based on the landed cost or allow free pricing for formulations containing the same.

With prices soaring to Rs 3,500 (thiamine) and Rs 3,000 (mono-nitrate) per kg, majority of the formulators of multivitamin preparations are in a tight spot. The major consumers of vitamin B1 are Glaxo, Ranbaxy, Pfizer, Merck, Lupin, SmithKline Beecham, among others. Vitamin B1 is one of the major active bulk drugs used in various vitamin B complex preparations and multivitamin formulations. The total domestic market for these formulations are valued at Rs 1000 crore. The annual requirement of vitamin B1 in the country is estimated to be over 200 tonnes.

As the drug is in the negative list of imports, drug companies are not in a position to freely import the productfrom abroad. ``If the shortage continues, we'll have to stop production of various multivitamin products,'' said an industry source.