A minister said on Saturday that Himachal Pradesh's Central Research Institute (CRI), whose manufacturing licence was cancelled in January 2008, has resumed production of vaccines with the central government giving it clearance.

Health Minister Rajeev Bindal told IANS, "CRI has resumed production of vaccines after the central government in its orders dated Feb 12 and 26 cleared its drug production license."

He further added that the state government had pursued the license case with the union health and family welfare ministry.

The minister also said "The central government has even sanctioned Rs. 30 crore for CRI in its budget for the next fiscal."

CRI was engaged in large-scale production of bacterial and viral vaccines. Its license was cancelled in January 2008 on the ground that the 103-year-old institute was not meeting the good manufacturing practice requirements as laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"CRI shall ensure that the production line is made fully compliant with GMP (good manufacturing practice) standards within three years from the date of the issue of the order. During the period, it shall furnish quarterly progress reports to the central government indicating the action taken in this regard," said the health ministry in one of its orders. (With Inputs from Agencies)