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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. A major food manufactured in the USA has removed all certified artificial colours from its food and beverage portfolio successfully, achieving its goal of fully eliminating them by the middle of this year. This move was announced in June 2025 and was confirmed that more than 90% of its U.S. portfolio was already free from synthetic dyes. These reformulated products have started arriving for consumption in the USA.
Source: short-url.cc/1xs6v

2. Hong Kong’s Department of Health has announced that medical gases will be regulated as pharmaceutical products from June 14, 2026, requiring manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to obtain relevant licences. Products containing nitrous oxide and nitric oxide will be classified as prescription medicines. Non-compliance may result in fines, imprisonment, and other regulatory enforcement actions.
Source: short-url.cc/1rZJs

3. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to multiple entities for alleged violations of current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements and for the unlawful marketing of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs through telehealth platforms. These warnings address firms that do not meet quality standards and telehealth providers promoting unapproved products for weight loss. The FDA emphasised compliance with manufacturing, quality, and marketing rules, and cautioned that failure to address the identified violations could result in further regulatory action.
Source: short-url.cc/1xs6F

4. India’s Central government has amended the marine export laws for export administration, effective from 9th June 2026. To modernize export administration, the notification mandates online registration workflows and establishes revised fee schedules. The legislative intent is to digitize statutory record-keeping and enforce strict compliance protocols governing ownership transfers, facility modifications, and dealer licensing across vessels, processing plants, and storage premises.
Source: short-url.cc/1rZJV

5. The World Health Organization has urged countries to shift from visual inspection and cytology-based screening to Human Papillomavirus testing for cervical cancer prevention. The updated recommendation highlights superior accuracy in detecting high-risk infections and supports wider adoption of affordable, locally developed Human Papillomavirus tests to accelerate cervical cancer elimination efforts.
Source: short-url.cc/1xs6P

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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. Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issued an Order on June 12, 2026 barring hospitals, doctors, and affiliated pharmacies from compelling patients to buy medicines exclusively from in-house pharmacies. Prescriptions must be handed directly to patients which gives the patients an option to pick pharmacy of their choice. This restriction put by hospitals on the choice of the patient to purchase medicines from their choice of a pharmacy amounts to unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Further, hospitals must now display notices stating patients of their right to purchase medicines from any licensed pharmacy of their choice in English and Marathi.
Source: shortlink.uk/1xhAz

2. The Jharkhand High Court has directed a complete ban on the conduct of the “two-finger test” in all hospitals, medical colleges, and healthcare institutions across the State. Reiterating established legal and medical principles, the Court observed that the practice is unscientific, violates the dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy of survivors of sexual assault, and has no evidentiary value in determining consent or sexual history. The Court directed the concerned authorities to ensure strict compliance with existing guidelines and legal standards governing the medical examination of sexual assault survivors, while emphasizing the need for survivor-centric and trauma-informed medical care. The ruling reinforces the prohibition on the use of the test and underscores the obligation of healthcare institutions to adhere to prescribed medico-legal protocols.
Source: shortlink.uk/1xgoW

3. The Telangana Drugs Control Administration has reportedly intensified enforcement against illegal medicine distribution by raiding an unauthorized supplier of cardiac stimulant injections and an unlicensed medical shop. Authorities warned against unauthorized sales and supply of prescription medicines.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rOoZ

4. The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that strict compliance with the PCPNDT Act, 1994 is essential to prevent sex-selective practices and female foeticide. The Court held that deficiencies in mandatory records, including Form F, are not mere technical errors but substantive violations. Emphasising the Act’s objective, it observed that accurate documentation is a crucial safeguard for effective monitoring, enforcement, and prevention of unlawful sex determination practices.
Source: shortlink.uk/1xgqd

5.India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified an amendment to Drugs Rules, 1945 dated June 9, 2026. The amendment removes the term “Syrups” from Item (7) under Serial No. 13 of Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945. This means that now syrups will be sold under a sales license only. Schedule K specifies certain classes of drugs and categories of persons or institutions that are exempt from specific provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules made thereunder, subject to prescribed conditions. The amendment came into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rOqd

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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. Punjab’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cancelled a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s licence and ordered a nationwide product recall following findings that allegedly linked substandard oxytocin injections to maternal deaths. The action highlights increased scrutiny of GMP compliance and data integrity, signalling stricter enforcement where product quality deficiencies may endanger patient safety.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjtj

2. Maharashtra’s FDA has uncovered a supply of falsely labelled “sterile” surgical gloves to government hospitals in Mumbai. The gloves were allegedly unsterilised due to company’s sterilization machine was malfunctioning, prompting raids and seizure of stock. The company responsible had attempted to recall the unsterilized surgical gloves before the raid with no success. Authorities are investigating licensing violations and whether proper recall procedures were followed.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjtr

3. A U.S. federal court has allowed a proposed class-action lawsuit to proceed against a manufacturer of a children’s nutritional drink over allegations that its marketing and packaging misled consumers into believing the product was clinically proven to help children grow taller. The court held that product claims, combined with visual branding and advertising elements, could reasonably be interpreted by consumers as referring to height growth rather than general growth and development. The lawsuit alleges that consumers were misled regarding the product’s benefits, while the company maintains that its claims are scientifically supported and appropriately describe the product’s role in supporting children’s growth and development. The case will now proceed for further judicial consideration.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjtH

4. India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade has exempted Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units and developers from the applicability of conditions of Quality Control Orders (QCO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) rules. This exemption will be applicable on the permissible good imported like raw materials and capital goods which are authorized for SEZ operations. However, if these imported items or their resulting manufactured products are moved into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA), they will be required to fully comply with all applicable QCO and BIS laws. Additionally, SEZ entities will have to submit a formal undertaking to the Development Commissioner at the time of import.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjtg

5. The United States Food and Drug Administration is conducting a scientific safety review of mifepristone, the abortion pill, using existing drug safety systems. The review could influence future distribution requirements for the medicine. While the agency maintains that mifepristone is safe and effective when used as directed, abortion rights groups have criticized the review.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjtT

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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 Supreme Court has held that access to trauma care is a fundamental right under Article 21, directing all States and UTs to unify emergency helplines under 112, establish trauma registries, operationalise cashless treatment for road accident victims, and enforce ambulance tracking standards within set timelines. The ruling significantly expands constitutional obligations on healthcare infrastructure, emergency services, insurers, and public health governance across India. It also needs to have physical and digital grievance redressal systems for good samaritans. This classification is not restricted to national highways but extends to state highways and district roads too.
Source: shortlink.uk/1qB9n

2. The government has reportedly referred 27 doctors to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for disciplinary action in connection with a pharmaceutical freebies case involving sponsored foreign trips under the guise of rendering of knowledge dissemination service. The matter relates to alleged acceptance of luxury travel and hospitality benefits linked to pharmaceutical promotional activities, with State Medical Councils now expected to examine the cases pursuant to violation of MCI Code of Ethics. The development intensifies scrutiny around pharma-doctor engagement practices, and enforcement of professional conduct regulations within the healthcare sector.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vZFF

3. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) initiated regulatory action against unauthorized online sale of hazardous chemicals like ammonium nitrate, PETN, gun powder, and picric acid. Notices were issued to e-commerce platforms, seller details shared with PESO, and platforms began delisting products to ensure consumer safety and compliance
Source: shortlink.uk/1vZFK

4. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly focusing on contamination control infrastructure, particularly Air Handling Unit (AHU) filter maintenance systems, to support compliance with revised Schedule M requirements. Industry experts note that heightened regulatory expectations around hygiene, traceability, cross-contamination prevention, and cleanroom maintenance are driving interest in automated AHU filter cleaning and maintenance technologies.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vZFU

5. Government of India is reportedly planning to launch a dedicated childhood cancer registry which aims to systematically collect data on cancer cases in children in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). India records around seventy-five thousand new cancer cases annually, many detected late. The government plans awareness, data collection, and collaborations to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Source: shortlink.uk/1qB8R

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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. The Department of Consumer Affairs met with major edible oil industry associations on 20 May 2026 to discuss standardizing pack sizes between 200 ml and 20 litres. The initiative aims to enhance consumer protection, ensure transparency in pricing, and prevent misleading packaging. Associations representing 90% of the sector supported the proposal, recommending exemptions for minor oils and packs below 200 ml, with a three month transition period for implementation.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vJbr

2. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has clarified that Form CT-16 applications for import of Reference Listed Drugs (RLDs) or Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) for export-oriented BA-BE studies may be submitted on a standalone basis through the NSWS portal. The clarification addresses operational issues due to lack of system linkage between CT-05 prior intimation applications and CT-16 applications on the SUGAM portal.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vJby

3. The Karnataka Pharma Retailers & Distributors Organization (KPRDO) has urged the government to immediately curb misleading advertisements and aggressive promotional practices relating to prescription, life-saving, and scheduled medicines, particularly across social media platforms. The organisation has also called for the creation of a specialised enforcement team and digital monitoring mechanism to address regulatory violations under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and the Drugs & Magic Remedies Act. The recommendations could also intensify scrutiny on pharmaceutical advertising, online promotional activities, pharmacy practices, and trade compliance across the healthcare and pharma sectors.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vJbD

4. India’s central food authority has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, revising contaminant limits across pulses, edible oils, seafood, oilseeds, and nutmeg containing products. Updated standards cover heavy metals, aflatoxins, veterinary drug residues, and inorganic arsenic in fish oils, effective from 1 December 2026. Food businesses, seafood exporters, and nutraceutical companies must review and strengthen quality assurance systems, testing protocols, and sourcing controls to ensure compliance.
Source: FSSAI Gazette Notification, Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026
Source: shortlink.uk/1vJbI

5. India’s Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that criminal liability cannot automatically be imposed on all directors or partners of a pharmaceutical company without specific averments establishing individual roles in business conduct. The judgment tightens procedural and evidentiary requirements for regulators prosecuting ‘Not of Standard Quality’ and spurious drug cases, potentially making enforcement actions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act more legally complex for drug regulators and enforcement agencies.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vMU6

Posted on

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 Kerala High Court has held that registered medical practitioners cannot enrol in another profession, including law, without first cancelling their medical registration, observing that mere cessation of medical practice or cancellation of a clinic licence is insufficient. The ruling reinforces restrictions on simultaneous professional practice and clarifies enrolment eligibility requirements under legal and medical professional frameworks.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vtU9

2. Maharashtra plans to replace the Bombay Nursing Homes Act, 1949 with the Clinical Establishment Act, 2025, mandating registration of all healthcare facilities. Defaulters face heavy fines and imprisonment. The law requires transparent fee display, standardized rates, and treatment protocols, though medical associations criticize it as burdensome.
Source: shortlink.uk/1q6ni

3. India is reportedly planning to establish a national registry to track implantable medical devices and the patients receiving them, with the objective of strengthening post-market surveillance, traceability, and patient safety oversight. The proposed framework is expected to cover devices such as cardiac stents, pacemakers, orthopaedic implants, and other high-risk medical devices through a centralised digital monitoring mechanism. The move marks a significant regulatory shift by increasing accountability, improving adverse event monitoring.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vtUh

4. India is reportedly planning to introduce DNA-based testing mechanism to bolster oversight of buffalo meat shipments and identify any illegal mixing of cow meat in export consignments. The initiative seeks to improve traceability across the meat export supply chain, address product authenticity concerns flagged by importing nations, and tighten adherence to export compliance norms. The development points to a broader regulatory push to align India’s meat export ecosystem with rising global standards on food safety and quality assurance. It is likely to raise the compliance bar for exporters, testing laboratories, and processing units operating in this space.
Source: shortlink.uk/1q6nz

5. India’s pharmaceutical industry is reportedly witnessing financial pressure from rising raw material and operational costs alongside weakening export demand in key overseas markets. The combined impact is squeezing profit margins and disrupting growth momentum for drug manufacturers already navigating pricing controls and global market volatility.
Source: shortlink.uk/1q6nJ

Posted on

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. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a public notice under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Cosmetics Rules, 2020, prohibiting use of cosmetics as injectable preparations by consumers, professionals, or aesthetic clinics. The notice flags four key violations: use of GNRAS or prohibited ingredients per BIS standards, misleading or false labelling claims, tampering with manufacturer inscriptions, and use of cosmetics for treatment purposes beyond their statutory scope of cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vo9D

2. The Karnataka High Court has stayed criminal proceedings in a case involving the alleged sale of pirated books on an e-commerce marketplace, with the platform arguing that it functions solely as an intermediary and does not directly control third-party seller listings. The development brings renewed focus to intermediary liability and the extent of safe harbour protections available to e-commerce platforms under Indian laws.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vo9I

3. The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has quashed criminal proceedings against a pharma unit initiated by a Central drug inspector, holding that prosecution for manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs lies with State authorities and not the Central Government. The ruling clarifies the limits of enforcement powers of central drug regulator and may affect similar cases initiated by CDSCO against pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Source: shortlink.uk/1q0Oz

4. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has reportedly initiated a review of concerns raised by retail chemists over the functioning of electronic pharmacies. Following assurances from the regulator, several state pharmacy associations have declined to participate in the proposed nationwide strike to avoid disruption in the supply of essential medicines and protect patient interests.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vo9S

5. A US federal jury found a major pharmaceutical company liable for delaying a generic version of a blockbuster constipation drug through an anticompetitive “pay-for-delay” arrangement. The verdict awarded nearly USD 885 million in damages and heightened scrutiny of delayed generic entry practices. The ruling may increase antitrust, litigation, and compliance risks for pharmaceutical companies globally.
Source: shortlink.uk/1q0OM

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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. The Bombay High Court granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of major drug manufacturer in a trademark dispute involving the marks “ASCORIL” and “ASCOTRAL.” The Court found the marks are visually and phonetically similar and likely to confuse consumers. The confusion in medicinal products could have serious health consequences. The Court restrained the defendant from using the mark.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pUOw

2. The Delhi High Court granted summary judgment in a trademark infringement suit involving protein supplement products, holding that the impugned marks ‘PROTEX’ and ‘PROTRILEX’ were deceptively similar to a long-standing registered mark. Observing structural, visual, and phonetic similarity, the Court permanently restrained use of the impugned marks and reiterated strong judicial protection for established healthcare and nutrition brands.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pUOD

3. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has reportedly signed memoranda of understanding with the Bihar, Maharashtra and Mizoram State Pharmacy Councils to strengthen pharmacovigilance, promote rational use of medicines, and enhance patient safety initiatives across states. The initiative focuses on wider adoption of the National Formulary of India (NFI), strengthening adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), establishing ADR Monitoring Centres, and conducting pharmacist training and awareness programmes.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vgVQ

4. Delhi High Court, while deciding a trademark infringement case involving CALPOL and WALPOL, declared CALPOL, a well-known trademark in relation to medicinal and pharmaceutical product under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 citing its decades-long use, strong consumer recognition, and extensive nationwide sales. The Court held that WALPOL was deceptively similar and capable of misleading consumers in the pharmaceutical market.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vgVT

5. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized a large consignment of Captagon tablets and powder, a banned psychotropic stimulant, under Operation RAGEPILL and arrested a foreign national allegedly linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate. The operation marks India’s first Captagon seizure and underscores intensified enforcement against transnational synthetic drug trafficking networks.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pUOR

Posted on

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

Posted on

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 advised stakeholders to submit clinical trial protocols simultaneously to CDSCO and Ethics Committees under Chapter III of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019. This is important as it aims to reduce approval timelines and improve regulatory efficiency, enabling faster initiation of clinical trials and quicker patient access to innovative therapies.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pAw-

2. The Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has reportedly urged the Ministry of AYUSH to strengthen international cooperation by prioritising partner countries for joint research, clinical studies, academic exchanges and capacity building in traditional medicine. The panel also recommended improving the Ayush Global Portal for better accessibility and global engagement. it could improve scientific validation, expand international acceptance of Ayurveda and yoga, and enhance India’s global influence in healthcare.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pAx1

3. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has reportedly issued a show-cause notice to a clean label food brand over claims that its chocolates contain “no added sugar” despite using dates and date powder as sweeteners. The action follows complaints by a rival brand and raises questions over compliance with FSSAI’s rules over claiming “non-addition of sugars”. The dispute could influence how food companies market sugar-free or no-added-sugar products in India’s growing chocolate sector.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uVZF

4. Private hospital associations have raised concerns over CGHS reimbursement caps, warning that limiting payouts to 70% of MRP for high-cost immunotherapy drugs may hinder access to advanced cancer care. This is important as this could increase patient costs, restrict use of costly treatments, and strain hospitals’ ability to provide life-saving oncology therapies.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pAx9

5. A lawsuit filed in California has raised concerns around AI-generated health and substance-use advice after allegations that chatbot interactions contributed to a teenager’s fatal overdose. The suit reportedly alleges that unsafe guidance on drug combinations was provided without adequate safeguards or warnings. The matter reflects growing regulatory oversight for AI tools used in healthcare, mental health, and wellness contexts.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pAxb