Globally, gelatin is largely manufactured from bovine and porcine hides, porcine hides being the more preferred lot(typically about 45% of the global gelatin produce is manufactured from pig skin), on account of the lower costs and time associated. Also, pig skin doesn’t have to contend with the leather industry on account of its low quality, making it a simpler bargain for gelatin makers.
Gelatin is a vital component in the manufacture of capsules, and the Indian pharmaceutical industry is currently faced with a conundrum – a shortage of this excipient.
The Indian demand for the consumption of gelatin is estimated to be around 10,000 tons in 2011, and the demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3-4%. However, there is a severe shortfall in raw materials necessary for the manufacture of the same – bones and ossein.
The Indian gelatin industry differs from the rest of the world, in the process followed for manufacture of gelatin: while most of the gelatin manufactured globally uses hides for the manufacture of gelatin, the Indian scenario makes use of crushed bones and ossein for producing gelatin. This is due to the virtual non availability of porcine hides for manufacturing gelatin in India. The porcine industry in India is a highly unorganized segment, making the hide collection process a hard proposition; and most of the bovine hides in India are taken up by the leather industry. Ergo, the Indian gelatin industry makes use of crushed bones and ossein resulting from the bovine industry.
The Bottleneck
80% of the population in India identifies itself as Hindu, who consider cow to be a holy animal, and the cow slaughter rates have only gone up marginally in India over the last 5 years. An increase in cow slaughter seems very unlikely. This marks the root of the raw material scarcity in India. Adding to the problem is the preference of Indian bone and