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 has directed state regulators to strengthen enforcement against the use of Chloramphenicol and Nitrofurans in food-producing animals. The move follows continued detection of these substances in export consignments, leading to international rejections and raising concerns over regulatory compliance and export competitiveness.
Source: shortlink.uk/1wKBT

2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026, which came into force upon publication in the Official Gazette on 23 May 2026. Through the amendment, FSSAI has omitted clause (8) of sub-regulation 2.3.14 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, following consideration of stakeholder comments received on the draft regulations issued in October 2024. The amendment formally revises the existing regulatory framework governing restrictions on the sale of specified food products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Source: shortlink.uk/1wKCp

3. The US FDA has launched a safety study of the abortion pill, also called mifepristone, potentially enabling new restrictions on its distribution and use. The FDA has further said for mifepristone to be safe and effective. Officials say the review is already underway and science based. The study will analyse existing data and could influence abortion access policies. Abortion right was legalised through the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling which overturned Roe v. Wade.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjC6

4. A pharmaceutical manufacturer has received a Warning Letter from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) concerning its formulation manufacturing facility in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. The regulatory action was issued following a review of records submitted under the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and is not linked to any on-site inspection of the facility. The observations relate to the use of purified talc that did not meet the current United States Pharmacopeia (USP) requirements. The company has stated that the Warning Letter is not expected to impact ongoing operations or product supplies from the facility and has committed to undertaking the necessary corrective actions and responding to the USFDA within the prescribed timelines. The facility was last inspected by the USFDA in August 2025 and subsequently received an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) with a Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) classification.
Source: shortlink.uk/1wKCB

5. Hospitals across India are reportedly facing shortages of key chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin and carboplatin, disrupting cancer treatment schedules and forcing patients to search for alternative supplies. The shortage has been linked to supply chain constraints and rising input costs, raising concerns about continuity of care and treatment outcomes.
Source: shortlink.uk/1wKCH

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 pharmaceutical industry has strengthened its position as the “Pharmacy of the World”, exporting affordable medicines and vaccines to more than 200 countries. The sector now earns over half its revenue from exports, supplies vaccine demand, and is expected to reach 130 billion dollars value by 2030.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSYh

2. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has introduced India’s first portable bedside MRI system for critically ill patients in ICUs and emergency settings. This is significant as it enables rapid brain imaging without shifting unstable patients, improving timely diagnosis, monitoring, and critical care outcomes.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSYo

3. India’s Directorate General of Health Services has introduced its first comprehensive framework for Intensive Care Units (ICUs), laying down standardized norms. ICUs have been categorised into 3 levels, with each level prescribed minimum bed strength, infrastructure and equipment requirements, staffing ratios, and specialist qualifications.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pxBR

4. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) seized misbranded “alkaline water” products for alleged use of non-permitted ingredients and labelling violations, signalling increased scrutiny of functional and packaged drinking water products in the west region. The action highlights growing regulatory focus on misleading health claims, ingredient disclosures, and compliance with Indian food safety and labelling laws.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSYx

5. The Union Health Ministry has launched JANANI (Journey of Antenatal, Natal and Neonatal Integrated Care), a QR-enabled digital platform aimed at strengthening maternal and child healthcare through longitudinal digital health records. The platform will track antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care, newborn care, and family planning services. The initiative is significant as it seeks to improve continuity of care, enable real-time monitoring of high-risk pregnancies, and strengthen technology-enabled public healthcare delivery across India.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSYA

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 pharmaceutical company has paused its obesity awareness campaign in India following an advisory from CDSCO against surrogate promotions that may indirectly lead consumers to a medicine, which is prohibited across media platforms. This is important as Indian regulators are increasingly monitoring disease-awareness and indirect promotional campaigns to ensure adherence to drug advertising, particularly in rapidly growing therapy areas such as obesity management. Going forward, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies may face tighter scrutiny over patient awareness initiatives, digital outreach, and indirect marketing strategies, requiring stronger alignment with India’s evolving compliance and promotional framework.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSTv

2. Manufacturers of platinum-based cancer medicines have reportedly urged the NPPA to revise the ceiling prices of regulated chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin after platinum API costs surged by nearly 200%–300%, making production commercially unviable. The industry warned that unchanged price caps could disrupt supplies of essential cancer medicines and adversely impact patient access to critical treatments.
Source: shortlink.uk/1pxx5

3. Pharmaceutical exporters continue to face delays in obtaining World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices Certificates (WHO-GMP) of Pharmaceutical Products through the Online National Drug Licensing System portal. Industry bodies warned that technical glitches and processing delays are disrupting exports and international regulatory commitments.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSTF

4. The Uttarakhand High Court granted bail to a snake venom collector accused of illegally possessing venomous snakes and extracted venom. The court noted his licence had expired and renewal was pending, suggesting procedural lapses rather than deliberate wildlife trafficking. The case highlights regulatory and compliance sensitivities surrounding wildlife-derived substances used in research and pharmaceutical applications.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSTJ

5. Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), participating in INTERPOL’s Operation Pangea XVIII, removed 959 illegal online health product listings and seized 6,641 units of unregistered medicines and medical devices at borders. Operation Pangea XVIII is a coordinated enforcement drive across 90 countries targeting illegal and counterfeit health products. The crackdown targeted products including contact lenses, ivermectin, dermal fillers, and prescription medicines. HSA also warned 152 sellers and cautioned consumers against purchasing illegal or self-administered health products online due to serious safety risks.
Source: shortlink.uk/1uSTM