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 apex food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reportedly commenced initiatives to frame guidelines for the safety and labelling of lab-grown meat, dairy, and egg products, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable food options within India.
Source: bit.ly/490hvIG

2. The Delhi High Court has granted a renowned food brand an injunction against its competitor for trademark infringement of its brand, which has been registered since 1986. The court determined that the competitor’s use of the mark for products could mislead consumers and harm the reputation of the original band, directing them to cease using the trademark and remove infringing products from e-commerce platforms.
Source: bit.ly/4fTj2Cp

3. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is reportedly developing a ‘Disposal Policy’ to safely remove unused and expired drugs from sale premises and households, addressing environmental concerns linked to improper disposal.
Source: bit.ly/4eFRlfF

4. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued a direction to all State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to enforce Rule 4(h) and 4(ha) of the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules which provides mandatory marketing and labelling compliance for the manufacturers of compostable plastic carry bags or commodities before selling such products in the market.
Source: bit.ly/3YXveeD

5. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has fined a major tech company ₹213.14 crore for misusing its dominant position over a messaging app’s 2021 privacy policy, which forced users to accept new data sharing terms. The CCI found this policy unfair because it didn’t allow users to opt out, and it ordered the company to make changes to provide clearer choices about data sharing and better explanations for users.
Source: bit.ly/3CxU9Oi

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 Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has approved a proposal to amend the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (ND&CT) Rules, 2019 to eliminate the two-step certificate issuance process for biomedical and health research ethics committee registration. Now, a system for reviewing and examining all ethics committee documents has been put in place at Department of Health Research (DHR). This process allows for the removal of redundant work and resource use, and only final certificates can be directly issued to ethics committees.
Source: bit.ly/3A8haGQ

2. To improve India’s whole digital healthcare infrastructure, a new certification program for hospital information systems (HIS) and electronic medical records (EMR) has been introduced by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). The program offers Basic and Advanced maturity levels that are valid for two years. The NABH portal will open for registration on December 1, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3UjzcN7

3. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) plans to amend the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, to include quality control provisions for non-sterile, non-invasive Class A medical devices like thermometers and stethoscopes. Currently exempt from licensing, these devices will now require manufacturers to comply with a quality management system.
Source: bit.ly/3NApDpw

4. The Madras High Court has ruled that Siddha practitioners are permitted to practice modern medicine but are prohibited from storing allopathic drugs without a valid license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Source: bit.ly/4hs9VKT

5. The World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared a draft guideline for food packaging to include health impact labels on the front, emphasizing the need for clearer consumer information regarding potential health risks associated with food contact materials. The draft received public comments till October 11, 2024 and will release the final guidelines in 2025.
Source: bit.ly/3BQlKKm