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 Supreme Court has ruled that a medical practitioner can only be held accountable for medical negligence if he lacks the necessary training or expertise or if he fails to use his reasonable skill in providing treatment, not because his treatment was unsuccessful.
Source: bit.ly/4e2eEzN

2. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune division has seized stock worth ₹1 crore due to misleading claims in two separate incidents. This includes ₹78 lakh worth of toothpaste with anti-inflammatory claims and ₹22 lakh worth of cosmetics with suspicious labels. In both cases, the FDA has alleged a violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, and the samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
Source: bit.ly/40hcyJa

3. India’s central drug regulator (CDSCO) has identified a list of 18 drugs declared as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ). The action has come after several states and union territories failed to report NSQ data, prompting the CDSCO to emphasize the need for timely submissions to enhance drug safety oversight.
Source: bit.ly/48njBSE

4. India’s central drug regulator (CDSCO) has identified four drug samples as spurious after drug inspectors in several states inspected them in September. Since the seized batch was not manufactured by the relevant pharmaceutical businesses, the manufacturer reported it as counterfeit. Drug samples are collected from sales and distribution locations as part of ongoing regulatory monitoring, and examined, and a list of spurious drugs is posted on the CDSCO portal once a month.
Source: bit.ly/3YqYqdE

5. To enhance guidelines and standards for the use of disinfectants and antiseptics in healthcare settings, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has released a draft of the new general chapter on disinfectants and antiseptics (Version 3.0) for public comments. The last date to submit comments is 8th December 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3YmXtmL

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. Use of artificial yellow food coloring ‘Tartrazine’ in food items like moong dal is not food adulteration as ‘Tartrazine’ is a permitted food coloring under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955; India’s Supreme Court.
Source: bit.ly/4718Tk4

2. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has withdrawn the clarification for selling / marketing of milk and milk products in the name of A1 & A2 for further consultation. Previously, FSSAI had clarified that it is misleading to differentiate milk and milk products on whether they are made from A1 milk or A2 milk and had thereby directed to remove such claims from such products including e-commerce websites.
Source: bit.ly/4778axU

3. Retail prices to be reportedly reduced by 50% of anti-diabetic drug Empagliflozin, which is expected to go off patent in March 2025 under Drugs Price Control Order, 2013.
Source: bit.ly/470IFxW

4. Indian Pharmaceutical Industry has urged to amend and delete the term “retailer” from the definition of dealer under Drugs Price Control Order, 2013 (DPCO). Manufacturers and importers are required to furnish price list to dealers. The inclusion of ‘retailer’ within the definition of ‘dealer’ has led to confusion over the extent of this obligation, potentially extending the manufacturer’s and importer’s liability beyond wholesalers to include retailers as well. If approved, Retailers, who typically interact with consumers directly, would be excluded from the manufacturer’s direct regulatory responsibilities, thereby allowing the focus to remain on the wholesale distribution channel.
Source: bit.ly/3ABX4Vs

5. QR Codes / Bar Codes may reportedly be made mandatory for vaccines, cancer drugs and antibiotics to validate the authenticity of drugs and prevent the supply of counterfeits.
Source: bit.ly/475pDGH