Tariff headings hit the pharmaceutical industry

The importation of drugs will be more difficult after the changes in the tariff headings approved last week by the Executive Power.

That is the conclusion made by the pharmaceutical sector. The resolution, released in the Official Gazette No 39,980, moved a large amount of the pharmaceutical products traded in the local market from the list 1 to list 2 of the Foreign Exchange Administration Commission (Cadivi).

In practice, it means that the enterprises should now process the Non-Production Certificate (CNP). According to the sector's estimates, due to the complicated procedure to obtain the document, the importation steps can take up to 30-60 additional days.

"Everything is going to be slower, it is another obstacle," stated a source who preferred to remain anonymous. The source also remembered that the CNP is a previous step to make any request at Cadivi. In addition to the delay, it is effective for six months. After this period, if the enterprises do not have the authorization to get dollars, they should process the document again.

The source stressed that the decision of the Executive Power can "aggravate" the product shortages in the market. Although the source underlined that there is not a "generalized deficit," it emphasized that the failures in the supply "are very high at this moment."

The pharmaceutical sector confirmed that most of the current shortage in pharmacies is caused by a late pricing of some medicines, as well as Cadivi's delay to approve the allocation for foreign currency for the pharmaceutical industry.

rdeniz@eluniversal.com

Translated by Karina Salas