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TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear Readers, 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.

1. India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has released draft rules under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, proposing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for managing post-consumer waste from paper, glass and metal packaging along with sanitary products. These Rules aim to promote recycling, reuse, and waste-to-energy initiatives. Producers, importers, and brand owners must register and meet EPR targets from April 2026.
Source: bit.ly/49w0GFK

2. India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has regulated the micro and small importers, producers, sellers and manufacturers of plastic raw materials and have mandated their registration on the EPR Plastic Portal. Filing of annual returns and compliance with all other EPR obligations is also outlined in the guidance issued by CPCB.
Source: bit.ly/49CJo9Z

3. India’s Supreme Court has reiterated that Ayurvedic/AYUSH doctors cannot claim parity with allopathic doctors, citing differences in academic qualifications and the standards of their respective courses. The court dismissed a petition by AYUSH doctors in Kerala, referring to past judgments that clarified the distinction in responsibilities and remuneration between allopathic and AYUSH practitioners.
Source: bit.ly/4iqyYhN

4. India’s Delhi District Consumer Commission has fined a leading FMCG company with a fine of ₹15 lakh for misleading advertisements about its “Fair and Handsome” cream, which claimed to provide fairness within three weeks without proper evidence. The Commission found the claims deceptive and an unfair trade practice, ordering the company to withdraw all misleading ads and packaging.
Source: bit.ly/3OPcMjE

5. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued a circular thereby directing all State and Union Territory Drugs Controllers to ensure the approval of drugs and medical devices for rare diseases within 90 days of receiving applications to expedite the regulatory process and support faster access to treatment for rare diseases.
Source: bit.ly/3VvSFLl

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

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.

Strict quality checks to be done by the food regulatory authority of powdered spices in India
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced plans to conduct comprehensive quality checks of different brands of powdered spices following an import ban by Hong Kong and Singapore on certain packaged powdered spices manufactured two popular Indian brands. The ban was ordered due to alleged discovery of a cancer-causing pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is also prohibited for use in food products by FSSAI in India.
Source: bit.ly/4b8aiWU

India too may soon allow sale of drugs without license
A Committee chaired by India’s Directorate General of Health Services will reportedly publish a list of drugs which can be sold over the counter (OTC) at retail stores, which are not druggists and chemists store. Unlike other countries like US, UK or China, India does not currently have any rule that allows sale of drugs over the counter.
Source: bit.ly/3UellH0

New voluntary standards for allopathic clinics to be implemented from June
India’s National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) has published Accreditation Standards for Allopathic Clinics (2nd Edition). NABH will start issuing accreditations as per this standard from 1st July, 2024. New applications or renewal applications as per the 1st Edition Standards will not be accepted after 30th June, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3xKLMwx

Indian Pharma Companies need to implement differential pricing strategies to leverage patent cliff: DOP study
A study conducted by India’s Department of Pharmaceuticals (DOP) states that pharmaceutical companies should come up with competitive pricing strategies and investigate differential pricing models based on regional economic factors and healthcare systems to ensure affordability and improve accessibility to capitalize on patent cliff opportunities. The report states that over 20 drugs with a combined sales value of $251 billion are expected to go off-patent in the current decade.
Source: bit.ly/4dbsCAg

World Health Organization outlines ten fundamental patients’ rights in its Patient Safety Rights Charter
The World Health Organization has launched the Patient Safety Rights Charter. This first-ever charter identifies ten fundamental patients’ rights in the context of safety and provides healthcare workers, leaders, and governments with the tools they need to build patient-centered healthcare systems, enhancing patient safety and lowering the risk of harm. WHO has recognized increasing patient safety through systemic and systematic action as a global priority.
Source: bit.ly/3WcsnPg