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 Drug Controller General (DCGI) has reaffirmed that the revised Schedule M good manufacturing practice norms will be enforced as scheduled from January 1, 2026, with no further extensions even amid industry calls for delays. The rule applies to all drug makers and aims to elevate quality standards, though many MSMEs cite compliance challenges and potential business impacts.
Source: h7.cl/1h1Ta

2. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has extended the deadline for manufacturers to apply under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for domestic manufacturing of critical KSMs, drug intermediates, and APIs until 16 January 2026. Applications must be submitted online through the designated portal, and all previously issued terms and conditions in the earlier notice will continue to apply.
Source: h7.cl/1lXQo

3. A plea filed recently in India’s Supreme Court, reportedly, argues that the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 is outdated. It seeks recognition of AYUSH doctors as registered medical practitioners and calls for reforms to curb misleading drug advertisements while allowing truthful, evidence-based information.
Source: h7.cl/1lXPt

4. India is considering waiving customs duty on select pharmaceutical products manufactured in special economic zones and sold in the domestic market. The proposal aims to boost investment, strengthen domestic supply of critical medicines and vaccines, and support the pharmaceutical sector amid rising global trade pressures.
Source: h7.cl/1h1Ti

5. Australian health authorities had recently flagged concerns over counterfeit batches of anti-rabies vaccine circulating in India. The public sector manufacturer clarified that the issue pertained to a specific counterfeit batch identified in January 2025 which has since been removed from circulation. The company emphasized that genuine vaccines released through authorized channels remain safe.
Source: h7.cl/1lXPz

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 Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has notified the establishment of a National Control Room (NCR) to coordinate and monitor nationwide enforcement of the ban on identified single-use plastic items. The NCR will support clarity, compliance tracking, stakeholder guidance, state control room reporting, inspections and awareness campaigns.
Source: h7.cl/1lmmL

2. The National Medical Commission has directed medical colleges to establish committees to monitor prescription practices, emphasising clear and legible handwriting and the use of generic drug names. The directive aims to strengthen patient safety, promote rational prescribing, and integrate these practices into medical education nationwide.
Source: h7.cl/1lmm6

3. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has reportedly directed all states and Union Territories to launch a nationwide enforcement drive against adulteration and misbranding of milk, paneer and khoya. The move follows repeated detections and aims to protect public health through strict inspections and penalties across country.
Source: h7.cl/1gsAC

4. More than 60% of registered small and medium pharmaceutical units in India reportedly risk shutting down by December 2025 due to non-compliance with revised GMP (Schedule M) quality standards. Industry stakeholders warn of potential medicine shortages, job losses, and export disruptions if compliance challenges are not addressed promptly.
Source: h7.cl/1gsAd

5. The EU’s Medical Device Coordination Group has issued new guidance clarifying criteria for qualifying breakthrough medical and IVD devices under MDR/IVDR. It defines key criteria such as significant clinical benefit, unmet medical need, and innovation level, aiming to harmonize interpretation across authorities and support early regulatory engagement without lowering safety or evidence requirements.
Source: h7.cl/1lmli

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 food regulator, FSSAI, has reportedly initiated a nationwide surveillance drive to collect and test egg samples (branded and unbranded) for banned antibiotics like nitrofurans. Additionally, FSSAI is also scrutinising declarations such as ‘100% chemical-free’, ‘antibiotic-free’, ‘100% pure’, or ‘fresh’, checking compliance with permissible labelling declarations.
Source: h7.cl/1gl8j

2. India will host the Second World Health Organization Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from 17 to 19 December 2025, bringing global leaders together to strengthen science-based, ethical and sustainable integration of traditional medicine into national health systems and the global health policy framework.
Source: h7.cl/1leF9

3. India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare has reportedly called on the National Medical Commission (NMC) to issue clear guidelines to establish new medical colleges in states with fewer than 100 MBBS seats per million population, addressing uneven seat distribution, high costs, faculty shortages and access gaps in medical education.
Source: h7.cl/1gl9d

4. The Indian Council of Medical Research has reportedly funded a pan India clinical trial, Intermittent PARP Inhibitor Regimen in Ovarian Cancer, to evaluate intermittent dosing of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in ovarian cancer, aiming to reduce treatment costs and side effects while maintaining clinical efficacy and improving patient access.
Source: h7.cl/1leFj

5. The Telangana Drugs Control Administration conducted a statewide inspection of retail medical shops and raided an unlicensed fertility centre, issuing notices to 180 outlets and seizing multiple medicines, reinforcing enforcement against illegal drug sales and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and ensuring patient safety across the state.
Source: h7.cl/1gl8A

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 Finance Ministry has amended the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1985 to replace Form 4A and revise Form 5, tightening procedures for import and export of narcotic drugs. The new rules mandate stricter documentation, separate accounting, monthly returns, transport permits, export-only restrictions, and compulsory surrender of unused morphine, codeine, thebaine and their salts to government facilities.
Source: h7.cl/1l0Dd

2. The Finance Ministry has authorized 15 pharma companies to import morphine, codeine, thebaine and their salts solely for producing export-bound formulations under strict conditions including use within 180 days, limits on waste, and surrender of unused material. The order is valid until December 31, 2027, with import certificates valid for 180 days.
Source: h7.cl/1g7yD

3. The Delhi High Court recorded an undertaking that a major Indian pharmaceutical company will not sell its semaglutide-based drug in India until March 20, 2026 when the secondary patent on the medicine is set to expire of another pharma company, while permitting it to manufacture and export the product to markets where no patent rights exist. The company’s assurance was noted by the court amid ongoing patent disputes, with similar relief previously granted to another domestic manufacturer in related proceedings.
Source: h7.cl/1g7xa

4. The Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes to expand the definition of unfair trade practices to include nondisclosure of key terms and dynamic pricing, algorithmic manipulation of consumer behaviour, and the use of complex barriers that impede cancellations, returns, or opting out of services, thereby strengthening India’s legal framework against dark patterns.
Source: h7.cl/1l0Ca

5. India will reportedly invite the World Health Organization to audit and rate its drug regulatory system, aiming to strengthen quality oversight and restore global confidence in its pharmaceutical sector. The initiative follows recent safety concerns and seeks to align national processes with international regulatory maturity standards.
Source: h7.cl/1l0Ce

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 authority (CDSCO) is considering a separate wholesale licence for bulk drugs and excipients to distinguish them from APIs and finished formulations. The proposal includes capturing details of wholesalers handling NDPS substances and requiring competent persons to be either science graduates with relevant experience or registered pharmacists, strengthening oversight and regulatory compliance.
Source: h7.cl/1fZHk

2. India’s Drugs Consultative Committee addressed non-compliance issues in hospital blood centres and directed states to strengthen oversight. Key actions include regular inspections with focus on viral marker testing, adherence to NBTC licensing procedures for charitable and voluntary centres, and timely licence renewals. States were urged to ensure strict compliance to maintain a safe blood supply.
Source: h7.cl/1fZHk

3. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission will release the tenth edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia on January 2, 2026, with standards effective from July 1, 2026. The new edition adds 121 monographs, five general chapters, and expanded harmonization to strengthen drug quality and regulatory alignment in India.
Source: h7.cl/1kRtQ

4. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposed a penalty on e-commerce platform for allowing the sale of walkie-talkies without mandatory disclosures on regulatory approvals. This suo motu action stemmed from listings that omitted details on spectrum compliance, frequency usage, potentially misleading consumers about the devices’ legality and exposing them to risks.
Source: h7.cl/1kRwR

5. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released a comprehensive guide on ticket creation to help producers navigate the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal for battery and e-waste management. The guide aims to streamline communication between producers and the regulator for all EPR-related queries.
Source: h7.cl/1fZK0

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 Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences has launched SIDDHI 2.0, a national industry research interface platform, to accelerate scientifically validated Ayurvedic product development. The initiative brings together regulators, researchers, and manufacturers to promote quality, safety, regulatory compliance and global competitiveness of Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals.
Source: h7.cl/1fbDr

2. The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has issued a circular requiring all licensed retail and wholesale pharmacies across the state to prominently display a QR code and toll-free number to report adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This step enforces compliance with Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) guidelines, strengthening pharmacovigilance under the national Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI).
Source: h7.cl/1k1Ny

3. Karnataka Pharma Retailers & Distributors Organization (KPRDO) has reportedly urged the government to halt ten-minute medicine delivery services, warning that treating prescription drugs as fast-moving consumer goods violates drug safety laws. They argue that medicines require prescription verification and pharmacist oversight, and that instant access to antibiotics and addictive drugs could lead to misuse, antimicrobial resistance, and public-health risks.
Source: h7.cl/1fbDv

4. Public commenters are calling on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to loosen clinical trial requirements, particularly for rare diseases and drug development. Commenters are urging the FDA to allow more flexible trial designs and reduced burden to accelerate access to therapies, especially for rare or underserved conditions like disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
Source: h7.cl/1k1NB

5. A major US retail chain has recalled several bottles of saline nasal spray after US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests detected contamination with Pseudomonas lactis. The Class II recall covers two production lots with 2027 expiry dates. While the risk is considered medically reversible, regulators advise consumers to stop using the affected batches immediately.
Source: h7.cl/1k1NE

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 Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has penalised an online pharmacy for automatically renewing customers’ three-month subscriptions without explicit consent and termed its as an unfair trade practice. CCPA has held that “auto-add” feature amounted to a dark-pattern by pre-selecting paid options.
Source: h7.cl/1jXQH

2. India’s food regulator has invited inputs from original equipment manufacturers (OEM) or suppliers on draft technical specifications for LC-HRMS, LC-IRMS and EA-IRMS systems by December 1, 2025. A physical presentation will be held on December 3 in New Delhi, with priority given to OEM submissions.
Source: h7.cl/1jXRD

3. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has proposed to exempt an additional 84 patented, proprietary and upcoming drug formulations from the Global Tender Enquiry cap. Domestic manufacturers have been invited to submit objections to the proposed list by December 5, 2025.
Source: h7.cl/1jXRR

4. The government has made enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based infectious disease screening compulsory in all licensed blood centres after HIV infections linked to contaminated transfusions in Jharkhand. It will also impose stricter inspections and enforce licensing rules to strengthen national blood-safety standards.
Source: h7.cl/1jXR8

5. Kerala’s government is preparing to launch “Genome City” in early 2026 at the Bio360 Life Sciences Park in Thonnakkal. The 60-acre facility will host pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, alongside high-end research centres. The initiative will leverage excellent connectivity and aims to drive innovation, create thousands of jobs, and accelerate approvals via a single-window system.
Source: h7.cl/1f7O-

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 government has withdrawn Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for critical materials like polypropylene and polycarbonate following an industry / NITI Aayog review, easing sourcing complexity for domestic medical-device manufacturers.
Source: h7.cl/1jJYy

2. The Supreme Court has requested the Centre and states to create a unified national policy under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, citing stark inconsistencies across states in donor criteria, allocation norms and regulation. It also called for donor-welfare guidelines, uniform registry formats, brain-death reporting and swift establishment of organ-tissue organisations in lagging regions.
Source: h7.cl/1eVn7

3. India’s Union Commerce Ministry has sought detailed industry inputs on market access barriers for pharmaceutical exports to Russia, focusing on registration, market entry, price rules, and clinical trials, as it prepares submissions for upcoming talks in Moscow to strengthen India’s expanding pharmaceutical presence across Russia and the wider Eurasian region.
Source: h7.cl/1eVnb

4. The Indian government is reportedly considering tighter regulation of health insurance to curb soaring premiums, driven by rising medical costs and uneven claim payouts. Proposed measures include capping premiums, limiting agent commissions, and requiring stricter disclosure norms. Discussions are ongoing with the IRDAI, insurers, and hospitals to evaluate the measures.
Source: h7.cl/1eVnf

5. India’s leading food delivery platform is reportedly close to an agreement with restaurant associations to share customer contact details and ordering insights, subject to user consent. The move aims to resolve long-standing disputes over data access and could set a new industrywide model for platform restaurant data sharing.
Source: h7.cl/1jJZC

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 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified an amendment the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014. The amendment specifies that in Form 15, under “Corneal Transplantation Centre,” the word “Specular” shall be replaced with “Specular (optional),” making the requirement for specular examination optional.
Source: urli.info/1eoY-

2. The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice in a petition by the Haemophilia Federation of India seeking inclusion of haemophilia under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’s provision which mandates a 4% reservation in government employment for persons with benchmark disabilities (those with 40% or more disability). Further, if there cannot be an inclusion, the petitioners have prayed for striking down the exclusion.
Source: urli.info/1eoZ1

3. A report by CyberPeace warns that early exposure to online gaming is increasingly linked to obesity, sleep disruption, repetitive-strain injuries and mental-health issues among children. It urges India to adopt robust age-verification mechanisms, formal content ratings and a “living legislation” framework for game developers and publishers.
Source: urli.info/1eoZa

4. The Indian Pharmacopoeia has reportedly been officially recognised by 17 countries as the authoritative standards for medicines. This recognition will enhance the quality assurance of pharmaceutical products, eliminate duplicate testing, promote export growth, and strengthen India’s position as a reliable supplier of affordable, high-quality medicines worldwide.
Source: urli.info/1jcwP

5. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has updated its guidance on advertising therapeutic goods on social media, clarifying legal responsibilities for advertisers, influencers and account holders. The update outlines what qualifies as advertising, the use of testimonials, mandatory health warnings and common breaches, after removing over 13,700 unlawful ads in FY 2024 25.
Source 1: urli.info/1jcwR
Source 2: urli.info/1jcwU

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS & POLICY UPADATES

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 has mandated to file all Post Approval Change (Form CT-06) applications for Cell and Gene Therapeutic Products exclusively through the SUGAM online portal after October 24 2025. Offline submissions will no longer be accepted thereafter.
Source: urli.info/1e0FX

2. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has reportedly introduced 22 quality standards for blood and its components to ensure safe transfusions across India. These standards, to be included in the Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026, establish globally first comprehensive benchmarks ensuring quality, safety, and infection-free blood for patients nationwide.
Source: urli.info/1iNpx

3. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued draft amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, introducing provisions to debar applicants found submitting misleading, fake, or fabricated documents for licences or approvals. Offenders may face suspension for a defined period, with the right to appeal within 30 days. Stakeholder comments invited within 30 days of publication.
Source: urli.info/1e0Fx

4. The Delhi High Court held that a doctor accused of medical negligence can continue to earn a livelihood by working at other medical centres. The Court clarified that the restriction only bars the doctor from running their own centre and does not prevent them from practising their profession elsewhere.
Source: urli.info/1e0FN

5. A Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum in India has held that the absence of a pathologist’s physical signature on medical reports cannot alone justify the denial of an insurance claim. In a case where a policyholder’s claim was rejected due to a missing signature, the forum directed the insurer to reimburse the cost after finding no evidence of fraud.
Source: urli.info/1iNph