Vedomosti learned about the problems with the import of medicines to Russia through Belarus

Companies importing pharmaceutical products from Europe to Russia have encountered problems in the transit of goods through Belarus. It is reported Vedomosti with reference to a letter from the Association of Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (ARPM) to Senator Vladimir Krugloy. Mr. Krugly confirmed to the publication that he had received the letter.

In total, ARPM includes 20 companies, including R-Pharm, Petrovax, AstraZeneca, Stada, Sanofi, Novartis. According to the newspaper, both Russian and foreign members of the association faced difficulties.

The letter to the senator said that the problems arose after the September changes in the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Belarus No. 247. The document introduces a ban on the movement of cars and tractors registered in the EU across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to Belarus.

According to the amendments, from September 20, medicines transported through the territory of Belarus, including bulk medicines, raw materials, medical devices, as well as spare parts for them, must now be included in the state register of medicines of the republic or the EAEU. Alternatively, you can provide an import permit or a conclusion from the Belarusian Ministry of Health. Otherwise, the trucks are subject to transfer to the transport of the EAEU at customs points or reloading into trucks of the union. Vedomosti notes that not all Russian drugs are included in the Belarusian register, and the Eurasian one is in the process of being filled.

According to Nikolay Bespalov, Development Director of the analytical company RNC Pharma, a number of medicines can “suspend” due to the problems described. One of the participants in the pharmaceutical market said that this could primarily affect drugs for the treatment of neurological and cardiovascular diseases. The ARFP letter says that the re-coupling of trucks creates difficulties in obtaining insurance policies and may lead to refusals of EU manufacturers to deliver goods through Belarus.

According to RNC Pharma, the volume of deliveries of finished drugs from Europe to Russia in the first nine months of this year amounted to 482.3 billion rubles, imports of bulk drugs -116.5 billion. Among foreign companies, Bayer is the leader in imports (7.6% ), Pfizer (6.4%), Roche (5.2%). In the segment of import of bulk products – “R-pharm” (36.3%), Novartis (10.2%) and J&J (9.7%).