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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. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has mandated complete inspection of all packaged drinking water facilities in Maharashtra amid hygiene scare. The move entails bi-annual compliance checks across production units to ensure that all such facilities comply with food safety norms.
Source: bit.ly/4lA3LcQ

2. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has extended the deadline for filing annual returns by Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) of plastic packaging for 2024–2025 to July 31, 2025 from June 30, 2025 as a special case. This aims to ease compliance and ensure effective plastic waste management.
Source: bit.ly/4nrkbG3

3. India’s Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held a leading biscuit manufacturer and its retailer liable for selling fungus-contaminated biscuit packets, despite the products being within their expiry date. They were directed to compensate the consumer and cover legal costs, reinforcing accountability in food safety and consumer rights.
Source: bit.ly/3GkOPjH

4. A conflict has emerged between Telangana’s Medical and Dental Councils over dentists performing hair transplants and aesthetic surgeries. The Indian Medical Council cites National Medical Commission guidelines limiting such procedures to trained dermatologists or plastic surgeons, while the Dental Council asserts that qualified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are permitted and qualified under existing dental regulations to perform such procedures.
Source: bit.ly/3I9HO5L

5. India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is working to set clear guidelines for genetically modified (GM) foods. This move has raised concerns among some organizations about food safety and environmental impact. At the same time, the US is urging India to ease rules on GM crop imports, creating debate over consumer health, agricultural practices, and international trade standards.
Source: bit.ly/4l6Nlsk

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.

Environmental Compensation Guidelines for Plastic Waste Published
India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued guidelines for the assessment of Environmental Compensation (EC) for violation of The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The Producers, Importers, Brand Owners and Manufacturers of plastic packaging will have to pay environmental compensation (EC) for non-compliance with the marking or labelling requirements, non-registration on the Plastic Packaging Waste EPR portal, shortfall in EPR targets, non-filing of annual returns etc. EC would also be levied on the generators of waste for non-segregation of plastic packaging waste at source and littering. The environmental compensation will be higher (15 – 20%) than the EPR credit charges prevailing in the market to ensure that it acts as a deterrent. The guidelines also specify the minimum and maximum amount of environmental compensation to be levied for violations of specific provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Source: bit.ly/3U6zhUJ

Importer of cosmetics inadvertently receives import registration for cosmetic product without applying for it
India’s Central Regulatory Body for Cosmetics, The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), recently cancelled the import registration certificate of an importer of cosmetics after it realized that it had inadvertently granted registration certificate even though the importer had not applied for it. CDSCO has attributed the mistake to some technical issues.
Source: bit.ly/3vNc0xQ

Hair transplantation by doctor with M.B.B.S. degree only does not automatically result in negligence, if standard of care not compromised by doctor: National Consumer Commission
India’s National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in Hyderabad refuse to fasten liability for medical negligence on a Doctor with M.B.B.S, who had performed a hair transplant surgery. The NCDRC observed that the M.B.B.S. course syllabus includes study of the dermis, and that a doctor with a M.B.B.S. degree has the qualifications and expertise to undertake minor surgeries of dermis such as hair transplantation.
Source: bit.ly/3PWQBZN

Indian hospitals have started using Artificial Intelligence extensively: Report
India’s major hospital chains have reportedly started using artificial intelligence (AI) for prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and personalized management. These hospital chains are also commercializing their AI solution by licensing it with smaller hospitals.
Source: bit.ly/43Ua6rF

French Government decides to impose fines on patients if they miss appointment with doctors
The French government has decided to impose a fine of five euro ($5.50) on patients who miss doctor appointments or cancel them with less than twenty-four hours’ notice. The Government homes that this initiative would free up missed appointments for other patients. It is reported that over 27 million doctor consultations go waste in France due to patient absences.
Source: bit.ly/49p7Iug