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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 Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has released the draft National Formulary of India (NFI) 2026, inviting stakeholder comments within 45 days of upload of the respective chapters and appendices, ahead of its proposed finalisation. The draft aims to promote rational use of medicines through evidence based prescribing guidance, standardised drug information, and measures to reduce medication errors and antimicrobial resistance.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sKC9

2. The Delhi High Court has directed the discontinuation of the “Olymviq” mark for semaglutide injections on account of its similarity with the “Ozempic” brand. A 30-day transition window has been granted to clear existing stock and shift to the alternative mark “Olymra.” The order reflects heightened judicial scrutiny of pharmaceutical trademarks, particularly in cases involving likelihood of confusion, prompting companies to reassess trademark strategies.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sKCd

3. The Drugs Consultative Committee in its sixty eighth meeting approved recommendations on scheduling of certain medicines, retaining dicyclomine in Schedule H and moving flupentixol, zopiclone, gabapentin and carisoprodol to Schedule H1. This is important as stricter controls will curb misuse and intoxication, improve monitoring and dispensing accountability.
Source: https://shortlink.uk/1sKCi

4. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) reportedly plans to tighten oversight of medicine packaging, emphasizing clear visibility of drug names, strength, and expiry dates. Through stricter inspections and regulatory directions, it aims to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety, prompting pharmaceutical companies to enhance labelling design, printing quality, and compliance standards.
Source: shortlink.uk/1nvq0

5. The Ministry of Environment has amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, removing the requirement to declare the percentage of recycled plastic on labels. Instead, packaging must comply with IS 14534:2023 and carry the prescribed marking, simplifying labelling obligations while ensuring adherence to recycling standards.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sKnX

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. Regulatory reforms under the Biological Diversity Amendment Act, 2023 are driving increased intellectual property filings linked to India’s biological resources. Streamlined procedures and mandatory prior registration with the National Biodiversity Authority have enhanced compliance, improved processing efficiency, and strengthened alignment between innovation, conservation priorities, and equitable benefit sharing frameworks
Source: shortlink.uk/1nbX2

2. The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ruled that merely holding the position of Director or Managing Director does not automatically attract liability under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Liability arises only if specific allegations prove the individual was responsible for the company’s conduct or involved in the offence.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sqvC

3. The Drugs Consultative Committee(DCC) has approved a proposal to develop a real-time digital portal for tracking manufacture, import, export, sale, and stock of pharmaceutical products regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The portal is aimed at strengthening surveillance, with potential integration involving CDSCO, State Authorities, and the Central Bureau of Narcotics.
Source: shortlink.uk/1nbXc

4. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has liberalised the RPTUAS guidelines to allow shortlisted applicants to claim the first instalment of subsidy upon submission of either a Revised Schedule M or WHO-GMP certificate. The remaining certificate may be furnished at the time of claiming the second instalment, thereby providing greater flexibility in meeting compliance requirements.
Source: shortlink.uk/1nb-y

5. India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade expanded the mandatory Halal certification requirement under the India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I CAS) Halal to 20 additional countries, including Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Maldives. Exporters must obtain certification from NABCB-accredited bodies, with compliance effective within two weeks (six months for Egypt).
Source: shortlink.uk/1sqvW

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 Delhi High Court ruled that India’s central food authority, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) cannot regulate animal or cattle feed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, holding that the law is limited to food meant for human consumption. The Court quashed FSSAI regulations restricting use of meat and bone meal in feed for milk- and meat-producing animals, citing lack of statutory authority.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sjFt

2. Telangana Health Minister has reportedly declared cancer a notifiable disease and launched a cancer registry to improve surveillance and care. With thousands of new cases, the initiative aims to strengthen data driven planning, expand treatment infrastructure, and introduce artificial intelligence based screening across government hospitals.
Source: shortlink.uk/1n5jM

3. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board has decided not to pursue the proposal to mandate pharmaceutical companies to allocate at least 1 percent of net profits towards free medicines under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The decision follows clarification that CSR obligations fall under the Companies Act, 2013 and not under Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules made thereunder.
Source: shortlink.uk/1n5jP

4. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of India, has permitted export of an additional 5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat flour and related products under HS Code 1101, while maintaining the “prohibited” export status. This quota comes over and above the 5 LMT allowed in January 2026, with detailed export modalities to be notified separately.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sjGG

5. The Court granted an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining the use of the mark “HIMALAYA THE NUTRA HEALTH CARE”, holding it to be deceptively similar to the plaintiff’s registered trademarks and trade dress. The Court noted the plaintiff’s long-standing presence, and global operations, and found that the impugned mark was likely to cause consumer confusion, constituting prima facie infringement
Source: shortlink.uk/1sjFF

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 Delhi High Court granted interim relief to Pharmaceutical company by restraining other pharmaceutical company from using “ALKAKIND” or similar marks. The Court held that the “KIND” suffix has acquired distinctiveness through extensive use, creating a strong likelihood of consumer confusion and reinforcing trademark protection for established pharma brands.
Source: shortlink.uk/1n47Q

2. The Government of India has issued the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, making BIS certification mandatory for 90 categories of electrical appliances. It will come into force on 1 October 2026, with phased timelines for MSMEs. Non-compliance will attract penalties under the BIS Act, 2016.
Source: shortlink.uk/1n48h

3. Indian pharma manufacturers have reportedly urged the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India to approve up to a 50% price increase for platinum-based chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin, after platinum prices nearly doubled from ₹3,869 to ₹8,000 per gram in six months, making production financially unviable and risking supply disruptions.
Source: shortlink.uk/1n48q

4. The Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has proposed extending PSUR timelines under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 for modified or sustained release drugs, novel drug delivery systems, and advanced biologics across their lifecycle, with annual and triennial reporting beyond four years. Currently, PSURs are submitted semi-annually for two years and annually thereafter.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sisG

5. India’s affordable generic medicines under the Jan Aushadhi scheme may see price increases as shipping disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict have raised raw material costs and constrained supply. The supply crunch is affecting local manufacturing, with smaller pharma units facing margin pressure, potentially impacting availability of low-cost medicines across Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
Source: shortlink.uk/1n48A

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 government has warned pharmacies, clinics, and online platforms of licence cancellation, fines, and legal action for unauthorised sale of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Regulators flagged misuse amid rising availability of generic semaglutide, reiterating that prescriptions are restricted to endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, and cardiologists only, with nationwide inspections already underway.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYE-

2. The Delhi High Court granted a 30 day stock clearance window to the pharmaceutical manufacturer for its diabetes drug under the existing brand, following its agreement to adopt a new name. Thereafter, unsold inventory will be supplied free to government hospitals under supervision, with immediate cessation of all commercial use.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYF1

3. A Hyderabad-based paediatrician has criticised a company for introducing similar-looking packaging following the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India crackdown on misleading ORS branding. The doctor alleged that despite rebranding, the product retains strong recall value, potentially misleading consumers and raising ongoing public health concerns over confusion between therapeutic ORS and commercial electrolyte drinks.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYF3

4. The US FDA clarified that compounded versions of GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs can only be produced during official shortages. With supply stabilising, compounders must stop manufacturing copycat versions once drugs are removed from the shortage list. The regulator warned of enforcement action against non-compliant pharmacies and telehealth providers.
Source: shortlink.uk/1sbL5

5. India’s Drugs Technical Advisory Board, has recommended amending the Drugs Rules, 1945 to introduce licensing provisions for drug marketers. The move aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and monitoring of entities that market drugs manufactured by other companies under their own label.
Source 1: shortlink.uk/1mYF8
Source 2: shortlink.uk/1mYFb