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 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

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 Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has extended the timelines for the filing of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) annul returns by producers of Battery waste and E-waste for the Financial Year (FY) 2023-2024 till 31st March 2025 and 31st January 2025 respectively. For E-waste the extension of timelines also applies to the filing of quarterly returns for the abovementioned FY.
Source: bit.ly/3WthHei
Source: bit.ly/4gcsPmW

2. India’s National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued an office memorandum (OM) requesting manufacturers and marketing companies of the scheduled formulations nicotine used for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to furnish the Price to Retailer (PTR) and Moving Annual Turnover (MAT) data, in value terms for October 2023, within 7 days from the issue of the OM. A format for submitting these details is also provided in the OM. This information is being sought to fix the ceiling prices of these formulations.
Source: bit.ly/4gnoEFb

3. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has released a guidance document to support the development of rapid diagnostics for pathogen identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST). The document offers guidance to innovators and developers on evaluating their tests and demonstrating their effectiveness.
Source: bit.ly/4heX8ue

4. The Kerala High Court (KHC) recently ruled that magic mushrooms are not classified as narcotic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. After reviewing the legal status of psychedelic fungi, the honourable court concluded that since magic mushrooms are not specifically scheduled under Act, they are not subject to its restrictions.
Source: bit.ly/3CiZv0k

5. India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released draft guidelines for the Pharmaceutical Industry in India, which are currently classified as highly polluting. The guidelines outline criteria for the establishment of pharmaceutical units, including mandatory minimum distances from sensitive areas. Stakeholders and the public are invited to submit their comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines by February 5, 2025.
Source: bit.ly/4h1GC0Y

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 Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs) to upload valid GST e-Invoices for the sale of product for the purpose of EPR certificate generation on the EPR portal for plastic packaging. The invoices must include key details like Buyer GST number, Seller GST Number, IRN No., HSN code, Invoice Number and QR code, ensuring they are signed, clearly visible, and readable.
Source: bit.ly/4fGikIn

2. India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reportedly constituted a panel that is in the process of finalizing guidelines to monitor microplastics and nanoplastics in food and bottled water. This move follows alarming findings of their presence in both branded and non-branded salt and sugar products consumed in India.
Source: bit.ly/4iXJrl4

3. India’s Karnataka High Court has temporarily barred government action against pharmaceutical companies manufacturing nutraceuticals in drug-licensed facilities until its next hearing. This follows challenges by industry bodies and stakeholders against Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which prohibits the production of non-drug items, like nutraceuticals, in drug manufacturing premises.
Source: bit.ly/41WVEQI

4. Doctors in the Indian state of Maharashtra have raised concerns over a directive from the state’s Food and Drugs Control Department (FDA), which allows homeopaths with a modern pharmacology certificate to prescribe allopathic medicines, despite a pending case in the Bombay High Court. They have also questioned the eligibility of homeopaths to prescribe modern medicine. The directive permits chemist retailers and wholesalers in the state to sell allopathic medicines prescribed by such homeopaths.
Source: bit.ly/424Awbg

5. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of a district in Madhya Pradesh, India, has warned private hospitals against employing BAMS/BHMS doctors as RMOs or duty doctors, particularly in ICUs and emergency departments, instead of qualified MBBS doctors and the violations may lead to registration cancellations under the Nursing Home Act. This comes amid nationwide concerns over patient safety and the misuse of medical designations, with healthcare experts calling for stricter oversight and accountability.
Source: bit.ly/3DOcMhw