Dear Reader, We are happy to share the most interesting legal and policy updates concerning health industry that we read today. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Drinks or beverages should not be sold as “health drinks” for children: NCPCR
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in India has sent a recommendation to the Consumer Affairs Department that no drinks or beverages including a popular drink for children and other similar products should be sold under the category of health drinks in stores or shops. It has sent a recommendation to Ministry of Commerce and Industry to issue directions to all e-commerce entities to remove these drinks and beverages from the category of health drinks on their websites.
Source: bit.ly/4aksQTe
Cookware, Utensils and Cans for foods and beverages will require Indian Standard Marks for sale in India
The Department for Promotion and Industry and Internal Trade has published a Quality Control Order (QCO) which makes it mandatory for importers and manufacturers of Cookware, Utensils and Cans for foods and beverages to obtain an Indian Standard Mark (IS mark) from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for sale of products in India. BIS grants rights to use IS mark after testing and inspection of products and manufacturing facilities, both in India and abroad, and charges a fee on the products sold. The QCO will take effect from September 1, 2024 for large scale manufacturers.
Source: bit.ly/49WwzXf
Restriction on package size of tablets or capsules relaxed in India
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an amendment in Drugs Rules, 1945 for the sale of multipacks (more than 10) of Tablets (coated or uncoated) or Capsules (hard or soft gelatin). From now onwards, packet of more that 10 tablets can be sold in the multiples of 5 or 7. Earlier, it could only be sold in the multiples of 5.
Source: bit.ly/3VjpDPJ
Strict implementation of new Pharma and Medical Device Promotion Code 2024 on cards as government reaches out to industry.
India’s Department of Pharmaceuticals will reportedly be holding a spree of meetings with the stakeholders from the pharma and medical device industry to ensure strict implementation of Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024. The UCPMP 2024 has replaced UCPMP 2015, and will govern interaction of pharma and medical device industry with doctors going forward.
Source: bit.ly/3Tminjw
India’s Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016 have been overhauled
India’s Indian Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change has introduced major amendments to the PWM Rules, 2016. A summary of the major amendments is described below:
- Extension in date of filing of annual returns for FY 2022-2023: The Producers, Importers, Brand Owners (PIBO’s) and Recyclers of Plastic Packaging Waste will have to file the annual returns for the FY 2022-2023 by 31st March 2024. This extension is granted only for the FY 2022-2023.
- Dates to file annual return by PIBO’s and recyclers: The annual return filing date for PIBO’s is 30th June and for Recyclers is 30th April of next financial year to which the return relates.
- Definitions of Importer, Manufacturer and Producer has been amended:
• “Importer” means a person who imports for commercial use, any plastic packaging or any commodity with plastic packaging or carry bags or plastic sheets or like material, or plastic raw material including in the form of resin or pellets, or intermediate material to be used for manufacturing plastic packaging such as films or preforms.
• “Manufacturer” means and includes a person engaged in production of plastic raw material, including compostable plastics and biodegradable plastics.
• “Producer” means a person engaged in manufacturing of plastic packaging; and, includes a person engaged in manufacture of intermediate material to be used for manufacturing plastic packaging, and also the person engaged in contract manufacturing of products using plastic packaging or through other similar arrangements for a brand owners.
Source: bit.ly/4cnitjy