How to Check a Pharma Supplier's Drug Licence and GMP Before Ordering

Buying medicines from an unlicensed seller puts your own licence at risk, even if the stock turns out to be genuine. These checks take less than an hour and are worth doing before the first order with any new supplier.

Wholesale or manufacturing licence

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, a wholesaler or distributor holds licences in Form 20B and Form 21B. A manufacturer holds a manufacturing licence, commonly in Form 25 or Form 28 depending on the product type. Ask for clear copies, check that the business name and address match the invoice, and check the validity dates.

GMP for manufacturers

Manufacturers in India must follow Schedule M, the Good Manufacturing Practice rules, which were revised in recent years. Many exporters also hold a WHO-GMP certificate. Ask which plant makes the product you are buying and whether that plant holds the certificate, since one company can run several sites.

GST registration

Look up the supplier's GSTIN on the government GST portal. The legal name, trade name and state shown there should match the documents you have received. A cancelled or suspended GSTIN is a clear stop sign.

Batch paperwork

For each consignment, ask for the batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and a certificate of analysis. Check that the batch details on the invoice match the cartons. For cold-chain products such as vaccines and insulin, ask how temperature is kept and recorded in transit.

Watch for warning signs

Prices far below the market, a refusal to share licence copies, cash-only payment, or invoices from a different company than the one you spoke to are all reasons to pause.

Use verification as a starting point

A verified badge on HealthKares means the business submitted documents and our team reviewed them at that time. It is not a guarantee of product quality, so keep doing your own checks, especially on the first order. You can read how we check documents on our verification process page.