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

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