Terming the manufacturing of spurious drugs a heinous crime against humanity and blot on the country's image, the drugs and pharmaceutical industry on Friday welcomed the government move to provide death penalty for those involved in manufacturing, selling and dealing with fake drugs.

"This is the real protection of the consumer. We are delighted that the government has done this so fast, considering that the Mashelkar committee report came out only in August," Swati Piramal, director, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd, told PTI in New Delhi.

She said this would send a clear message to the world that India believed in quality and added that armed with such a legislation it can emerge as a global centre for quality drugs.

Spurious drugs industry is estimated at about 10-20 per cent of the Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion) overall pharmaceutical industry.

Ranbaxy vice president (corporate affairs, global licensing and allied businesses) S D Kaul described the decision as a very positive move for the industry as well as consumers.

"The industry, which loses about Rs 3,000-4,000 crore (Rs 30-40 billion) every year because of spurious drugs, had been demanding a stringent reaction from a long time. Its a very welcome initiative," he said.

The Union Cabinet had on Thursday approved an amendment in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to provide for death penalty for such a crime and stringent punishment to those involved in selling and dealing with such drugs.