New Delhi (PTI) India will take up with Libya a complaint by an Indian pharmaceutical company that its consignment was barred entry on the grounds that it was from a non-US, non-EU region.

"We have asked our trade mission in Libya to take up the issue with the autorities there. Ajanta Pharma had brought to the notice of Indian authorities that its consignment had been blocked in Libya," a senior Commerce Ministry official said.

Customs authorities of Libya are understood to have informed Ajanta Pharma that only goods registered in the US and EU would be allowed entry into their country.

"We are expecting a response sometime soon," the official said.

Libya isn't a very big market for Indian pharma products, but the fear is that "this ban should not begin a trend. The impact should not be widespread", Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council Executive Director P.V. Appaji said.

As per figures available with the Council, during April-February 2009, India's exports of drugs, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals to Libya was worth USD 3.52 million.

The incident comes almost a month after Nigeria confiscated sub-standard drugs carrying 'Made in India' tag but allegedly manufactured in China. Although the two incidents cannot be seen in the same light, Mr. Apajji says, "An impression should not form that there is some problem with India-made drugs."

Today's galleries: