What are the top trends in syrup manufacturing in India?
After some high-profile incidents (e.g. cough syrups found contaminated, leading to regulatory action), the Indian authorities (CDSCO etc.) have been emphasizing compliance with global standards: WHO-GMP, ISO, proper sourcing of raw materials, avoiding adulterants, batch-testing etc. Manufacturers are investing more in documentation, quality control labs, traceability of inputs.
To ensure more consistency, lower human error, better yield and safety, syrup manufacturers are increasingly using automated mixing, filling, packaging lines; PLC/SCADA based monitoring; sensor-based measurements for viscosity, pH etc. Also, cleaning-in-place (CIP) systems, closed systems etc. are getting more common to maintain hygiene.
There is growing demand for new kinds of syrups:
Pediatric-friendly / better taste, pleasant flavor to ensure compliance.
Sugar-reduced or sugar-free versions for special populations. Some “diabetic-friendly” or low-sugar formulations.
Herbal/natural syrups or those with “clean label” ingredients. Using herbal extracts, botanicals etc. This is particularly seen in India because of Ayurveda/herbal medicine traditions.
Manufacturers are under pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. This includes:
Using greener/eco-friendly packing materials.
Waste management systems in plants, better treatment of effluents.
Optimizing energy consumption, water recycling.
India’s syrup manufacturers are seeing growing export opportunities and need to meet not just domestic, but international regulatory requirements. Products are being formulated to meet stricter pharmacopoeias, getting certifications so they can be exported to Asia, Africa, Latin America etc.
More pharma and nutraceutical companies are outsourcing. So, syrup contract manufacturing / third-party manufacturing is rising. Manufacturing units are offering more flexible batch sizes, custom flavours, custom recipes, to suit clients. This flexibility includes offering different dosage forms, flavours, packaging types.
Not just standard cough or pediatric syrups — there’s demand for specialty syrups: vitamin or mineral fortified syrups, probiotics syrups, immune-boosters, herbal cough syrups, etc. Also, syrups designed for specific demographics (kids, elderly) or health conditions (e.g. low sugar).
Use of digital tools to monitor production parameters, quality, inventory etc. Some plants are using IoT sensors, automated alerts, data logging to ensure consistency, reduce wastage, maintain traceability.