NEW DELHI BI-WEEKLY ESTH REPORT SEPTEMBER (II) 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 002599 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/EGC, AND SCA/INS STATE FOR STAS STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HHS PASS TO NIH STATE PASS TO USAID STATE FOR SCA, OES (STAS FEDOROFF),OES/PCI STEWART; OES/IHB MURPHY PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STEIGER/ABDOO/VALDEZ),CDC (BLOUNT/FARRELL), NIH/FIC (GLASS/MAMPILLY/HANDLEY),FDA (LUMPKIN/WELSCH, GENEVA FOR HOFMAN) PASS TO MAS/DAS/JESTRADA PASS TO MAC/DAS/HVINEYARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO SENV AMED CASC KSCA ECON ETRD BEXP EINV PGOV TSPL, TRGY, TNGD, EIND, ENRG, KGHG, IN SUBJECT: NEW DELHI BI-WEEKLY ESTH REPORT SEPTEMBER (II) 2008 REF: NEW DELHI 1086 NEW DELHI 00002599 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. SUMMARY: This edition of the New Delhi ESTH biweekly includes an update on the new Biofuel policy released by the Government of India (GOI) on September 11, and the recent visit of senior US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) officials to explore areas of technical assistance. The report includes Department of State Global AI Action Group (G/AIAG) Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Helen Reed-Rowe's visit to New Delhi and her familiarization of Avian Influenza (AI) issues with relevant government authorities. Completion of an HHS/NIH Workshop on Fundamentals of Biostatistics in Clinical Research and the commencement of a CDC-led collaborative study on disease burden related to the influenza virus infection in India, are reported. The cable also provides details on GOI's response to the USFDA ban on the import of 30 locally manufactured drugs. Other updates from the HEALTH section include the next steps to the National Reference Laboratory Assessment conducted by CDC, the organization of a counter terrorism training with CDC and the Department of State (DOS) support for the first time in Asia, the visit of staff from CDC/Atlanta to provide support in the preparation of the PEPFAR Annual Country Operational Plan, and the PEPFAR Strategic Information (SI) Officer's planned 3 day visit to Hanoi for an Office of Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC)-driven regional SI consultation. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- GOI ANNOUNCES NEW BIOFUEL POLICY -------------- -------------- ¶2. The GOI on September 11, 2008 approved the implementation of the National Biofuel Policy (NBP) by 2017. The NBP envisages the use of petrol with a 20 percent blend of ethanol (current blend is 5 percent) and diesel with a blend of non-edible oil from plants such as Jatropha Curcas (botanical name). The percentage of ethanol in petrol is also expected to be doubled to 10 from the present 5 subject to availability of sugarcane based ethanol. It is also proposed to scrap additional state taxes and duties on bio- diesel and confer "declared goods" status. Declared goods status would mean that the two would attract a uniform central sales tax or Value Added Tax (VAT) rate rather than varied sales tax rates prevalent in states and thus help ease commerce within and outside the states. Further, a National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) headed by the Prime Minister of India has been constituted to oversee the implementation of the NBP. ¶3. The GOI plans to give preference to homegrown biodiesels, mandating they come from non-edible oil seeds and be grown on waste, degraded or marginal lands. Biodiesel crops will not be allowed to grow on fertile, irrigated land, and the government plans to ban the import of free fatty acids, such as palm oil. Further GOI plans to undertake purchase of biodiesel as a rural business hub activity through the local government bodies (Panchayat Raj) in the villages. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has already identified 20 biodiesel procurement centers in nine states. The NBP also calls for the GOI to encourage research and development besides aiding plantations, processing and production technologies including cellulosic biofuels. Some of the new research initiatives include focused study of ethanol extraction from Cashew fruit which is otherwise discarded as waste and extraction of biodiesel from Moringa Oleifera (botanical name) or drumsticks seed which can be grown even in dry land regions. -------------- -------------- USEPA ENGAGES WITH INDIAN INTERLOCUTORS NEW DELHI 00002599 002.2 OF 004 -------------- -------------- ¶4. In a series of meetings with the GOI ministries as well as Indian NGOs and multilateral institutions from Sept 15-18, 2008, senior US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) officials scoped their engagement possibilities with India and discussed areas where existing EPA expertise could benefit India as it grapples with air and water pollution, toxic waste and environmental governance issues. ONE common theme expressed in all meetings, including with the GOI, was India's failure in promoting good environmental governance and institution building over the last few decades. Clearly India is willing to work closely with the EPA and is in the process of reviewing its governance structure, with suggestion to have an environmental governance structure modeled over the EPA. A more detailed cable will follow. -------------- -------------- AI ISSUES FAMILIARIZATION VISIT TO INDIA -------------- -------------- ¶5. Department of State (DOS) Global Avian Influenza Action Group (G/AIAG) Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Helen Reed-Rowe was on a familiarization of Avian Influenza (AI) issues visit to India last week. Dr. Reed-Rowe has taken over the portfolio from Mr. Hollis Summers. While in New Delhi, Dr. Reed-Rowe met with senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, the World HEALTH Organization to familiarize herself with avian influenza issues and the challenges faced. At Mission, she received briefing on seasonal and avian influenza from HHS, FAS, USAID, and ESTH section -------------- -------------- CLINICAL RESEARCH WORKSHOP SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED -------------- -------------- ¶6. The HHS/NIH Workshop on Fundamentals of Biostatistics in Clinical Research, held from 15-17 September, 2008 was successfully completed. The series of workshops help to train academia in the area of good clinical research practices mainly early and mid-career medical faculty members/researchers, as well as postgraduate students with interest in clinical research. This was seventh workshop by HHS/NIH on clinical research in the last 2 years. -------------- -------------- CDC COLLABORATIVE INFLUENZA DISEASE BURDEN STUDY -------------- -------------- ¶7. HHS/CDC scientists came to assist in the collaborative project "Infectious Disease Burden in rural communities in India." The project will obtain accurate information on the burden of disease related to influenza virus infection in India so as to make decisions regarding selection of strategies for its prevention and control including use of available vaccines. This study aims to quantify the burden of severe illnesses attributable to Influenza virus in different parts of the country. This study is being done in collaboration with National Institute of Virology, Pune, Indian Council of Medical Research and Centers for Diseases Control and prevention, USA -------------- -------------- INDIA'S RESPONSE TO THE USFDA BAN -------------- -------------- ¶8. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) last week Qnned NEW DELHI 00002599 003.2 OF 004 the import of 30 drugs manufactured at Indian pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy's plants in Paonta Sahib and Dewas. The ban, imposed after the detection of certain procedural problems in the manufacturing process, will once again raise question marks about the quality of drugs being produced by Indian manufacturers. Ranbaxy officials were "disappointed" with the ban. India may take up the issue in case the ban is not revoked following corrective actions taken by the company. Ranbaxy has informed India's Ministry of Commerce that it has made procedural corrections at its manufacturing facilities in conformity with USFDA rules and is in the process of informing the USFDA. According to a press report, the Ministry of Commerce stated "There is nothing wrong with the quality of the drugs banned by the US. There were small procedural violations pointed out by the USFDA. Ranbaxy has informed us that those violations have been corrected and it would now invite the USFDA to come and inspect its facilities." The Commerce officials added "We have no objections when genuine concerns are addressed. But if quality issues are unnecessarily raked up as non-tariff barriers, we will surely discuss the matter with the U.S." -------------- -------------- CDC AND STATE ORGANIZE COUNTER-TERRORISM TRAINING -------------- -------------- ¶9. HHS/CDC and the DOS along with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Asia, conducted a week-long training on counter-terrorism. This is in line with the priorities identified by Indo-USG JWG on Counter-terrorism. Held at the TRC (TB Research Center) and NIE (National Institute of Epidemiology) in Chennai from September 16- 19, this was the first ever meeting of its kind in Asia. NIE/Field Epidemiologists Training Program (FETP) faculty facilitated the training, as did CDC. CDC also helped DOS in customizing case studies for India and in locating local participants. The training had representation from the GOI, and about 30 participants (public HEALTH experts in surveillance, law enforcement agencies' officials and some DOD personnel) attended. The newly arrived Consul General in Chennai Mr. Andrew Simkin provided closing remarks and handed out certificates to participants. -------------- -------------- NACO, CDC AND WHO TO ORGANIZE CONSULTATION ON LABORATORY STRENGTHENING -------------- -------------- ¶10. The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) is holding a follow-up consultation to the CDC-conducted laboratory assessment of the 13 National Reference Laboratories in India. This consultation will be held from September 23-25 and will be attended by all participating laboratories, to discuss next steps and develop a roadmap for quality improvements and strengthening. This is in response to the assessment report. CDC, along with the World HEALTH Organization, will facilitate this consultation. The meeting will be held at the National Institute of Biologicals in New Delhi. -------------- -------------- CDC/ATLANTA ASSISTANCE IN PREPARATION OF COUNTRY OPERATIONAL PLAN -------------- -------------- ¶11. PEPFAR SI Adviser Sadhna Patel and India Backstop officer in Atlanta, Dr. Richard Keenlyside are on TDY to India. Ms. Patel and Dr. Keenlyside are in-country to provide assistance on the preparation of the annual Country Operational Plan. -------------- -------------- NEW DELHI 00002599 004.2 OF 004 CDC PEPFAR SI OFFICER TO ATTEND SI REGIONAL CONSULTATION -------------- -------------- ¶12. CDC's PEPFAR SI Officer will attend a regional SI consultation at Hanoi, Vietnam being organized by the Office of Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) from September 24-26. This meeting will bring together about 22 strategic information experts from 7 countries in the region to discuss common issues that are faced in the management and organization of strategic and program data and for sharing best practices in data quality assessments, adherence to common reporting frameworks with the host country government and use of program data in decision-making. MULFORD