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 District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-II, Chandigarh passed an Order in favour of the consumer for automatically levying a service charge and without obtaining the consent of the consumer; further, the opposite party refused to remove the said charge upon objection. The opposite party did not appear in the Consumer Court, hence, an ex-parte Order was passed. The opposite party was directed to refund ₹129 collected towards service charge and pay a lump-sum compensation of ₹5,000 towards harassment and litigation expenses within 45 days of receipt of the order.
Source: short-url.cc/1ymfE

2. India’s finance ministry has extended the customs duty exemption on imports of specified petrochemical products used in pharmaceutical manufacturing such as chemicals, plastics, textiles, packaging, and automotive manufacturing in view of the continuing global supply disruptions. The extension is intended to ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential raw materials, support domestic pharmaceutical production, and help mitigate input cost pressures.
Source: short-url.cc/1ymfK

3. India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty on a major beverages manufacturer for making a misleading “100% tender coconut water” claim. The authority held that the product’s labelling and advertising had the potential to mislead consumers regarding its composition, constituting a misleading advertisement and unfair trade practices under the consumer protection Act, 2019. The authority directed the company to discontinue the impugned advertisements and imposed a monetary penalty.
Source: short-url.cc/1sR6o

4. The Indian Multi-Disciplinary Committee of experts advised the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to fix ceiling prices for intravenous fluids with advanced safety packaging at fifteen percent above existing regulated prices. If accepted, the proposal would encourage adoption of safer packaging technologies while ensuring these essential medicines remain subject to price regulation.
Source: short-url.cc/1sR6v

5. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued a notice directing registered battery waste recyclers to upload GST e-invoices for the sale of recovered key battery metals and metal compounds on the Battery Waste EPR Portal for EPR Certificate generation. EPR Certificates generated on the basis of non-GST e-invoices after 30 June 2026 will not be considered valid and may constitute non-compliance under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022.
Source: short-url.cc/1ymg3

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 National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has increased the ceiling prices of Anti-Tetanus Immunoglobulin 250 International Units and 500 International Units injections by 50 percent exercising its extraordinary powers. The revision follows concerns over rising production costs and aims to ensure continued availability of these essential life-saving medicines.
Source: short-url.cc/1ymqX

2. India’s central food authority, FSSAI, has reportedly issued show-cause notices to eight food companies in India. One such notice was issued for deceptive branding. This Notice was issued because a brand used the claim “plant-based vegan” on the packaging which was not approved under FSSAI license obtained. Such claims have higher chances of misleading the consumers by using marketing tactics to create false impressions of the brand.
Source: short-url.cc/1ymr2

3. India’s central food authority, FSSAI, has reportedly advised Food Business Operators (FBOs) to immediately discontinue the use of metallic pins, staples, and wires in food packaging materials, citing potential risks of physical contamination and consumer injury. The regulator has urged businesses to review their packaging processes and adopt safer alternatives such as food-grade adhesives, tapes, or other secure packaging methods that do not compromise food safety. The advisory forms part of FSSAI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen food safety practices and reduce the risk of foreign matter contamination across the food supply chain.
Source: short-url.cc/1sRhw

4. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) mandates that all manufacturers and importers of hair colour cosmetics strictly adhere to the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, and applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). To safeguard public health, stakeholders must ensure absolute compliance with statutory labelling requirements, ingredient restrictions, and mandatory caution statements. Furthermore, any alterations to a product’s composition, quality specifications, or label must be formally reported to the appropriate Central or State Licensing Authority.
Source: short-url.cc/1sRhD

5. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised upward the ceiling prices of BCG, Measles Rubella and Measles vaccines pursuant to a review order. The change reflects the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ view that the 17.1% monopoly reduction should not apply to vaccines, supporting continued vaccine availability.
Source: short-url.cc/1ymqX

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 Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has launched a centralized online patient feedback system across its hospitals and dispensaries nationwide to strengthen patient-centric healthcare delivery. The digital platform enables beneficiaries to submit feedback on healthcare services received at ESIC facilities, facilitating real-time monitoring of patient experiences and service quality. The initiative will help identify service gaps, support continuous quality improvement, and strengthen the overall healthcare experience for insured persons and their dependents.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjWU

2. The Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a liquor manufacturer arising from the transport of liquor consignments where authorities found two liquor cases without a valid permit and bottles bearing batch numbers different from those specified in the permit. The Court observed that the batch-number discrepancies resulted from inadvertent labelling errors by workers, with no evidence of adulteration or revenue loss to the government. Holding that only the transport of the two unpermitted liquor cases constituted an offence, the Court compounded the matter and imposed a monetary penalty, while allowing separate departmental action for licence-condition violations to continue.
Source: shortlink.uk/1wKXJ

3. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified an amendment to Schedule V of the Drugs Rules, 1945, substituting the unit for folic acid from “mg” (milligram) to “mcg” (microgram). The amendment will come into force six months from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjX4

4. The Ministry of AYUSH has amended the NCISM appointment rules to reduce the minimum experience required for appointment as Secretary to the Commission from 15 years to 7 years. The amendments also clarify that serving government officials appointed to NCISM or its Autonomous Boards will be treated as being on deputation and provide alternative provident fund coverage where General Provident Fund subscription is unavailable. This strengthens the institutional and human-resource framework of the NCISM, which oversees standards in Indian systems of medicine.
Source: shortlink.uk/1rjWU

5. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is considering raising prices of key platinum-based cancer drugs like cisplatin and carboplatin after manufacturers flagged steep increases in raw material costs, especially platinum. Authorities are balancing concerns over patient affordability with the risk of supply shortages if prices remain unchanged.
Source: shortlink.uk/1wKXQ

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 central health ministry has notified the revised fees for testing or analysis for drugs, vaccines, and AYUSH medicines given under Schedules B and B(1) of the Drugs Rules, 1945. The revised fees will be applicable in three months post-publication in official gazette. The fees shall automatically increase by 5% annually. For the tests that are not listed in the Schedule, charges will be determined by the Director or the Government Analyst of the Laboratory or institute. This update will focus on strengthening India’s testing infrastructure while increasing compliance expenses for manufacturers.
Source: shortlink.uk/1qPI3

2. The Delhi High Court dismissed the appeal challenging exclusive rights in the mark“REDDY” for pharmaceutical goods, affirming cancellation of a conflicting registration and restraining its continued use. The ruling reinforces the importance of acquired distinctiveness, market reputation, and consumer protection in trademark enforcement within regulated industries.
Source: shortlink.uk/1weId

3. This official corrigendum by India’s NPPA, dated May 27, 2026, corrects the manufacturer and brand names under serial number 4 of Table-B in its previous Ringer Lactate ceiling price order (S.O. 1584(E)) (p. 2). The manufacturer is now M/s Fresenius Kabi India, with brands ‘Freeflex bags’ and ‘Eurohead bottle’ (p. 2).
Source: shortlink.uk/1qPID

4. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority may reportedly refer the methodology for fixing ceiling prices of intravenous (IV) fluids to its Multi-Disciplinary Committee (MDC) of experts after identifying inconsistencies in pricing across formulations and special-feature packaging. The review will improve transparency and consistency in the pricing of IV fluids while addressing concerns over packaging-related pricing variations.
Source: shortlink.uk/1weIH

5. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sought an explanation from a leading quick commerce platform following a consumer complaint alleging illness after consuming curd purchased through the platform. The regulator has reportedly requested a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) and sought information regarding food safety compliance, while noting multiple recent complaints relating to allegedly spoiled, unhygienic, or damaged food products sold through the platform’s marketplace sellers. The development underscores increasing regulatory scrutiny of food safety obligations in the e-commerce and quick commerce sector, particularly concerning platform accountability for products sold by third-party sellers.
Source: shortlink.uk/1weIQ

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

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

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

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. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has exempted Nafithromycin 400 mg tablets from price control under DPCO, 2013 for five years. The exemption starts from launch or patent expiry, whichever is earlier. This allows flexible pricing, but the company must report launch date and price details to the authorities
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYOh

2. The Centre has set April 30, 2026 as the final deadline for private hospitals to complete empanelment under the Central Government Health Scheme. Hospitals failing to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) by the deadline will be de-empanelled from May 1, losing eligibility to treat CGHS beneficiaries or submit reimbursement claims.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYOm

3. US pharmaceutical companies have reportedly opposed price caps imposed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) of India, seeking blanket exemption for patented medicines. Industry stakeholders argue that current controls reduce prices by nearly 50% post-patent expiry, discouraging innovation and limiting availability of advanced therapies in India.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYOq

4. The Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, released a draft policy to tackle student mobile addiction. The proposal caps recreational screen time at one hour daily, introduces digital wellness committees, and mandates teacher training and counselling support to address rising mental-health concerns among adolescents.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYOs

5. India’s Ministry of Finance has reportedly temporarily exempted customs duty on forty petrochemical and chemical inputs until June 30, aiming to stabilise supply chains disrupted by Middle East tensions, ease cost pressures on pharmaceuticals and manufacturing sectors, and support industry facing sharp increases in raw material and packaging costs.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYOu