New Delhi, March 3 (IANS): The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Tuesday restricted the export of several active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and formulatins made from these APIs including paracetamol, and tinidazole, on concerns of shortage of drugs in the country.

The department under the Commerce Ministry said the the restriction would come into immediate effect.

The other APIs and formulations include metronidazole, acyclovir, vitamins B1, B6 and B12, progesterone, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and clindamycin salts, neomycin and ornidazole.

The directive comes on the backdrop distortion in supplies from China. Hubei province in China, which is the epicentre of the epedimic is a major source of pharma raw materials or APIs.

"Export of specified APIs and formulations made from these APIs is hereby 'restricted', with immediate effect and till further orders," said the DGFT notification.

The outbreak of novel coronavirus in China has impacted supply of raw materials and products in several sectors including electronics, auto and pharceuticals.

An HDFC Bank report on Tuesday said around 68 per cent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) imported by Indian companies from China in FY19.

Around 40 per cent of India's electrical machinery and equipment is imported from China, it said.