New Delhi, July 24 -- The India-UK free trade agreement, signed on Thursday, is expected to open up new opportunities for Indian pharmaceutical and medical device makers. The deal is also expected to improve access to medical devices from the UK in India.

Medical device manufacturers anticipate an increase in trade between the two countries but are awaiting clarity on non-tariff measures and on whether regulatory processes will be streamlined.

"Previously, medical devices imported into the UK were duty-free, so tariff restrictions were not an issue but regulatory approval costs and time were a challenge," said Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator of industry body Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (Aimed).

The body had previously s...