The government of India declared on Wednesday that the imported Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate) medicine for treatment of H1N1 influenza or swine flu has been exempted from the customs duty, in order to build ample stock of the drug in the country.

On 21 May, 2009, the Central Board of Excise and Customs issued an exemption order for customs duty free import of one million capsules of Tamiflu 75 mg (Oseltamivir Phosphate), which is being imported by M/s Roche India Ltd., on the behest of the government.

The government has allowed Roche duty free import of Tamiflu to supplement the stock manufactured in India. Roche has been authorized to maintain buffer stock of the medicine on behalf of the Government for supply to Government only. The customs duty has been exempted on the recommendation of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.