New Delhi: The formal announcement of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK has brought big cheers for the domestic industry and the country’s medical device makers applaud the trade pact, that commits smoother market entry and duty-free access to Indian exports.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the ‘Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement’ (CETA) brings “zero-duty” access to 99 per cent of the exports from India, covering nearly 100 per cent of the trade value.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the ‘Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement’ (CETA) brings “zero-duty” access to 99 per cent of the exports from India, covering nearly 100 per cent of the trade value.

However, Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD noted that previously, medical devices imported into the UK were duty-free, so tariff restrictions were not an issue.

For domestic device makers we sought recognition of Indian CDSCO regulatory approval or QCI’s voluntary Indian Certification to fast-track regulatory approval and address non-tariff measures faced by Indian exporters, Nath added.

As the finer details of the FTA are still under review, industry experts and other stakeholders have yet to comment on the non-tariff (import duty) trade aspects of the agreement.

Currently, India remains heavily reliant on imports to meet its medical device needs, a pattern that is also evident in the current trade dynamics between the two countries.

India’s medical device exports to the UK stood at ₹1,015 crore in 2024, while imports were more than double, reaching ₹2,295 crore — a sharp 36 percent rise from ₹1,682 crore in the previous year, according to AiMeD.

ET Healthworld