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 central drug licensing authority (“CDSCO”) has issued a detailed FAQ document clarifying procedural and compliance requirements relating to prior intimation for Bioavailability (BA) and Bioequivalence (BE) studies for drugs meant for export purposes, under the amended provisions introduced through a notification. The guidance addresses limitations, submission timelines, documentation expectations, and regulatory processes for study sponsors and contract research organisations.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pHxP

2. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is reportedly working on regulatory guidelines for the use of high-risk solvents amid concerns over Propylene Glycol and its toxic impurities, Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG), in paediatric oral medicines like cough syrups. The move aims to strengthen quality checks, improve ingredient oversight, and prevent future contamination-related public health incidents.
Source: shortlink.uk/1v3ev

3. The Karnataka High Court has stayed the FSSAI advisory restricting the use of Ashwagandha leaves and leaf extracts in health supplements, providing interim relief to nutraceutical and wellness companies using such ingredients in their products. The Court observed that such restrictions may require amendments instead of being introduced through an advisory mechanism alone. This is important as the advisory had created restrictions for manufacturers operating in the nutraceutical and Ayush sectors using Ashwagandha. The order temporarily allows continued use of Ashwagandha leaf extracts while the larger regulatory and legal validity of the restriction is examined.
Source: shortlink.uk/1v3eB

4. India’s drug regulator has directed all 4,153 licensed blood banks to register on ONDLS portal on priority, as part of HIV infections in children due to contaminated transfusions linked to unsafe transfusions. Every blood center must register itself regardless of the status of their license.
Source: shortlink.uk/1v3eQ

5. The European Union has included India in its revised draft list allowing continued export of Indian aquaculture products from September 2026, bringing major relief to India’s seafood industry after the country’s earlier exclusion in 2024. The decision follows India’s compliance with European food safety and antimicrobial regulations.
Source: shortlink.uk/1v3eW

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. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued a regulatory update outlining revised procedural and compliance requirements for industry stakeholders, aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and streamlining approval processes. This is important as evolving CDSCO requirements may affect licensing, submissions, and regulatory timelines. Companies may now need to review internal compliance processes and align documentation and approval strategies accordingly.
Source: shortlink.uk/1tzqM

2. The Thrissur Consumer Commission held both the seller and the e-commerce platform liable for delivering an expired consumable product, ruling it an unfair trade practice and deficiency in service. Rejecting reliance on a “non-returnable” policy, the Commission ordered refund, compensation, and costs. It emphasized that platforms must ensure grievance redressal and cannot evade liability where defective or unsafe goods are supplied through their marketplace.
Source: shortlink.uk/1tzqU

3. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, to include the Department of AYUSH and its nominated representatives in state and district-level waste management committees. This is important as it expands regulatory oversight to AYUSH healthcare facilities and strengthens compliance expectations. AYUSH institutions and related healthcare providers may now need to align with enhanced bio-medical waste management governance and monitoring requirements.
Source: shortlink.uk/1tzqI

4. Stakeholders have urged greater drug regulator oversight of nutraceuticals, citing concerns over quality standards, therapeutic claims, and wide pricing variations, with calls to shift certain nutraceuticals from food regulation to drug-level oversight. This is important as nutraceuticals are increasingly prescribed alongside medicines but lack uniform quality and pricing controls. Companies may now face stricter compliance requirements, enhanced quality standards, and potential regulatory scrutiny.
Source: shortlink.uk/1tzqY

5. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has introduced a prior intimation system pursuant to amendments in the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 effective April 21, 2026. It applies to bioavailability and bioequivalence studies for export-only drugs, excluding certain high-risk categories. CT-05 applications must be filed via Sugam with ethics approval, while other categories remain under prior approval. This is important as evolving CDSCO requirements may affect licensing, submissions, and regulatory timelines.
Source: shortlink.uk/1ohEa